Dark Chocolate and Platelet Function in Humans

Summary

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality worldwide and responsible for one out of three global deaths. A main characteristic of cardiovascular disease is impaired blood flow and formation of blood clots. Platelets are clot-forming cells responsible for the prevention of bleeding. However, in disease conditions they may be overly activated, promoting blood clots and blockage of blood vessels.

Consumption of diets rich in fruits and vegetables decreases mortality from cardiovascular disease through a number of mechanisms, including the prevention of platelet clotting and aggregation. There is some evidence suggesting that platelet aggregation may be modulated through a group of compounds known as flavan-3-ols, which are found in various foods, and especially in cocoa. However, the mechanisms by which those compounds affect platelet function are not yet fully understood. We designed a human study assessing the mechanisms by which flavan-3-ols from cocoa beneficially affect platelet function and the platelet proteome.

Conditions

• Cardiovascular Disease

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Dark chocolate enriched in flavan-3-ols and procyanidins

Acute consumption (within 15 minutes) of 60 g of chocolate containing \~900 mg of total flavan-3-ols and procyanidins.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Standard dark chocolate

Acute consumption (within 15 minutes) of 60 g of chocolate containing \~400 mg total flavan-3-ols and procyanidins.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

White chocolate

Acute consumption (within 15 minutes) of 60 g of white chocolate containing no flavan-3-ols and procyanidins.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate (RERAD, UK)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

  collaborator OTHER

• Natraceutical Industrial S.L.U., Valencia, Spain

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Aberdeen

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Baukje de Roos, MSc PhD · University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2009-03-31

Primary Completion

2009-11-30

Completion

2011-05-31

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations