THE EFFECT OF DARK AND WHITE CHOCOLATE ON BLOOD PRESSURE AND RENAL PERFUSION AS ASSESSED WITH DOPPLER ULTRASOUND IN HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS

• DOI: 10.1097/01.hjh.0001019620.63737.11
• Publication Date: 2024-05-22T10:03:43Z
• Authors: Menno Pruijm; Louise Gargiulo; Wendy Brito; Marielle Hendriks...; Kenji Theiler; Gregoire Wuerzner
• Keywords: Dark chocolate; Doppler ultrasound

Objective: Dark chocolate (DC) is rich in calories but also cocoa, a substance with anti-oxidative and antihypertensive properties. Acute intake of DC vasodilates coronary arteries, the effect on blood pressure renal hemodynamics poorly understood. The aim this randomized, placebo controlled study was to investigate whether induces changes perfusion as assessed Doppler ultrasound, both at rest during sympathetic stimulation, compared cocoa-free white (WC). Design method: Seventeen healthy volunteers aged 42±14 years (47% women) were randomized eat 1g/kg (70% cocoa) or WC. resistive index (RRI), proxy intra-renal vascular resistance, measured just before two hours after consumption. Blood (BP) heart rate Finapress device. At each time point, 3-minute handgrip test performed stimulus; handgrip, supplementary RRI values measured. Two weeks later, same exams repeated other type chocolate. Results: decreased from 0.62±0.04 0.60±0.04 (p=0.039), whereas did not change WC (before: 0.62±0.05, after: 0.62±0.04, p=0.47), see Figure. had no BP persons consuming >50g/chocolate/week, SBP increased 115±17 122±15 mmHg (p=0.02) non regular eaters. Handgrip exercise lowered 0.62 0.57 (p=0.001) flattened curves, while increasing (from 115±15 139±16mmHg, p=0.001). In women, attenuated by ingestion DC. Conclusions: lead an acute reduction RRI, suggesting vasodilatation, effect. only non-regular eaters, that eaters got accustomed BP-modifying effects led, surprisingly, reductions especially young participants. Whether sign sympathetically induced vasodilatation reactivity needs further study.