FRC consumption significantly improves blood pressure , insulin resistance , lipid profiles , and FMD .
A growing body of evidence suggests that the consumption of foods rich in polyphenolic compounds , particularly cocoa , may have cardioprotective effects .
No review , however , has yet examined the effect of flavonoid-rich cocoa ( FRC ) on all major cardiovascular risk factors or has examined potential dose-response relationships for these effects .
Improvement of endothelial function with dietary flavanols is associated with mobilization of circulating angiogenic cells in patients with coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVES In patients with coronary artery disease ( CAD ) medically managed according to currently accepted guidelines , we tested whether a 1-month dietary intervention with flavanol-containing cocoa leads to an improvement of endothelial dysfunction and whether this is associated with an enhanced number and function of circulating angiogenic cells ( CACs ) . BACKGROUND Dietary flavanols can improve endothelial dysfunction . The CACs , also termed endothelial progenitor cells , are critical for vascular repair and maintenance of endothelial function . METHODS In a r and omized , controlled , double-masked , cross-over trial , 16 CAD patients ( 64+/-3 years of age ) received a dietary high-flavanol intervention ( HiFI [ 375 mg ] ) and a macronutrient- and micronutrient-matched low-flavanol intervention ( LoFI [ 9 mg ] ) twice daily in r and om order over 30 days . RESULTS Endothelium-dependent vasomotor function , as measured by flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery , improved by 47 % in the HiFI period compared with the LoFI period . After HiFI , the number of CD34+/KDR+-CACs , as measured by flow cytometry , increased 2.2-fold as compared with after LoFI . The CAC functions , as measured by the capacity to survive , differentiate , proliferate , and to migrate were not different between the groups . The HiFI led to a decrease in systolic blood pressure ( mean change over LoFI : -4.2+/-2.7 mm Hg ) , and increase in plasma nitrite level ( mean change over LoFI : 74+/-32 nM ) . Applying a mixed-effects linear regression model , the results demonstrated a significant increase in flow-mediated vasodilation and a decrease in systolic blood pressure with increasing levels of CD34+/KDR+-CACs . CONCLUSIONS Sustained improvements in endothelial dysfunction by regular dietary intake of flavanols are associated with mobilization of functional CACs . ( Effect of Cocoa Flavanols on Vascular Function in Optimally Treated Coronary Artery Disease Patients : Interaction Between Endothelial Progenitor Cells , Reactivity of Micro- and Macrocirculation ; NCT00553774 )
FRC consumption significantly improves blood pressure , insulin resistance , lipid profiles , and FMD .
A growing body of evidence suggests that the consumption of foods rich in polyphenolic compounds , particularly cocoa , may have cardioprotective effects .
No review , however , has yet examined the effect of flavonoid-rich cocoa ( FRC ) on all major cardiovascular risk factors or has examined potential dose-response relationships for these effects .