Dark Chocolate May Lower Cholesterol

Dark chocolate may help lower cholesterol in patients with diabetes, according to a small study.

In the trial, 12 adults with type 2 diabetes were given 15 grams of chocolate, with or without high-polyphenol content, three times daily for 16 weeks. After a four-week washout period, the participants switched groups.

At the beginning and end of each treatment period, the researchers measured the participants' weight, glycemic control, lipid profile and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation).

The authors found that HDL cholesterol (also called good cholesterol) significantly increased and total cholesterol decreased in the polyphenol chocolate group. However, no such changes were observed in the low-polyphenol chocolate group. Weight and glycemic control remained unchanged in both groups.

Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids, which may help reduce the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. It has been suggested that cocoa flavonols may work by increasing the amount of nitric oxide, which helps relax blood vessel walls, allowing for better blood circulation.

For more information about integrative therapies for high cholesterol, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness database.

References

Mellor DD, Sathyapalan T, Kilpatrick ES, et al. High-cocoa polyphenol-rich chocolate improves HDL cholesterol in Type 2 diabetes patients. Diabetic Medicine 2010;27(11): 1318-21.
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