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Everybody loves chocolate. A new research found tentative evidence that eating chocolate in modest quantities may be good for the heart. Heart researchers at the University of Aberdeen found that eating up to 100g of chocolate a day lowered the risk of and reduced the risk of suffering a stroke by 23 per cent. The study is published in the Heart.
Scientists in Britain analyzed the data from nearly 21,000 people over 12 years who filled out questionnaires about their snacking habits. Their average daily consumption of chocolate was seven grams (0.25 ounces), ranging from none to 100g. The researchers found that the top fifth of chocolate-eaters were 12% less likely to develop heart disease and 23% less likely to suffer a stroke compared to the bottom fifth of consumers.
The research team, headed by Phyo Myint of the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, admitted the probe had limitations. The study was observational, meaning it could not show a cause and effect, but merely an association which may be circumstantial. Another question mark was to be found in reverse causation- study participants who knew they had cardiovascular problems may have followed a healthier diet and eaten less chocolate.
The study noted that milk chocolate, often thought to be less healthy that dark chocolate, may also have the same benefical health effects and was eaten frequently by the study’s partcipants.
"This may indicate that not only flavonoids, but also other compounds, possibly related to milk constituents, such as calcium and fatty acids, may provide an explanation for the observed association."
The team also did a review of other published studies, covering more than 130,000 people in total, and said, "We had found a similarly beneficial association with regular chocolate consumption. Cumulative evidence suggests that higher chocolate intake is associated with a lower risk of future cardiovascular events. There does not appear to be any evidence to say that chocolate should be avoided in those who are concerned about cardiovascular risk."
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