Dark Chocolate Might Lower CV Risk in People with Metabolic Syndrome

Dark chocolate is rich in polyphenols, including flavonoids, that have salutary cardiovascular (CV) and metabolic effects. Indeed, dark chocolate consumption lowers blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels. Using “best case scenario analysis,” investigators modeled the long-term effects of daily dark chocolate consumption in patients at high risk for CV disease.

The modeled population consisted of 2000 people (mean age, 54) with metabolic syndrome and untreated hypertension, but without diabetes or CV disease. Risks for CV disease and death were calculated using established algorithms and registries. The effects of dark chocolate consumption (polyphenol content equivalent to 100 g of dark chocolate daily) were based on prior meta-analyses…