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Flavonoids, a cocoa compound, can be a great ally to prevent cardiovascular disease. It has been seen by the first large-scale trial designed to test the long-term effects of this cocoa compound in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. And the results are protective: there was a 10% reduction in total cardiovascular events
Published in “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” the team led by Howard Sesso and Joann Manson, both of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, describe the main results of the COSMOS study, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial that tested a cocoa flavanol and a multivitamin in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Although neither supplement significantly reduced the primary outcome of total cardiovascular events, people randomized to receive the cocoa flavanol supplement had a 27% lower rate of cardiovascular death.
“We have seen signs promising that a cocoa flavanol supplement can reduce major cardiovascular events, including death from cardiovascular disease,” Sesso said.
“Previous studies had suggested the health benefits of flavonoids, compounds present in various plant-based foods, such as cocoa, tea, grapes, and berriesManson said.
“COSMOS was not a trial of chocolate, but rather a rigorous trial of a cocoa extract supplement containing levels of flavonoids that a person could never realistically consume from chocolate without adding excessive calories, fat and sugar.” to your diet,” they explain.
Smaller, short-term trials have found cardiovascular benefits of cocoa flavonoids on blood pressure and blood vessel dilation.
More of 21,000 participants they were randomly assigned to take daily capsules containing 500 mg of cocoa flavonoids and a multivitamin tablet, neither, or both.
The study found that cocoa flavonoids reduced total cardiovascular events by 10%, but this was not statistically significant. However, several secondary analyzes provided broader support for a possible benefit of cocoa flavonoids on cardiovascular events. First, those who received the cocoa flavonoid supplement had a significant 27% reduction in death from cardiovascular disease.
Second, when the study team accounted for adherence to the study pills (looking at those who took their study pills regularly), the team saw a stronger 15% reduction in total events cardiovascular disease and a 39% reduction in death from cardiovascular disease.
Finally, it has been seen that there was a reduction of major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarctions, cerebrovascular accidents and deaths from cardiovascular causes.
Sesso adds: “Our message to consumers is to eat a healthy and balanced diet, rich in natural food sources of flavonoids, and to be vigilant as we assess other important health outcomes in COSMOS».
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