Eating a moderate amount of chocolate each week may be associated with a lower risk of stroke in men, according to a study.
"While other studies have looked at how chocolate may help cardiovascular health, this is the first [study] of its kind to find that chocolate may be beneficial for reducing stroke in men," study author Susanna C. Larsson, PhD, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, said in a news release.
For the study, 37,103 Swedish men ages 49 to 75 were given a food questionnaire that assessed how often they consumed various foods and drinks, including how often they ate chocolate. Researchers then identified stroke cases through a hospital discharge registry. Over 10 years, there were 1,995 cases of first stroke.
Men in the study who ate the highest amount of chocolate had a 17% lower risk of stroke, or 12 fewer strokes per 100,000 person-years, compared with those who ate no chocolate. (Person-years is the total number of years for which all participants were under observation.)
In a larger analysis of five studies that included 4,260 stroke cases, the risk of stroke for individuals in the highest category of chocolate consumption was 19% lower compared with non-chocolate consumers. For every increase in chocolate consumption of 50 grams per week, or about a quarter-cup of chocolate chips, the risk of stroke decreased by about 14%.
"The beneficial effect of chocolate consumption on stroke may be related to the flavonoids in chocolate, Larsson said. "Flavonoids appear to be protective against cardiovascular disease through antioxidant, anti-clotting and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also possible that flavonoids in chocolate may decrease blood concentrations of bad cholesterol and reduce blood pressure.
"Interestingly, dark chocolate has previously been associated with heart health benefits, but about 90% of the chocolate intake in Sweden, including what was consumed during our study, is milk chocolate,," Larsson added.
The study appeared Aug. 29 on the website of Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study abstract is available at www.neurology.org/content/early/2012/08/29/WNL.0b013e31826aacfa.abstract.
"While other studies have looked at how chocolate may help cardiovascular health, this is the first [study] of its kind to find that chocolate may be beneficial for reducing stroke in men," study author Susanna C. Larsson, PhD, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, said in a news release.
For the study, 37,103 Swedish men ages 49 to 75 were given a food questionnaire that assessed how often they consumed various foods and drinks, including how often they ate chocolate. Researchers then identified stroke cases through a hospital discharge registry. Over 10 years, there were 1,995 cases of first stroke.
Men in the study who ate the highest amount of chocolate had a 17% lower risk of stroke, or 12 fewer strokes per 100,000 person-years, compared with those who ate no chocolate. (Person-years is the total number of years for which all participants were under observation.)
In a larger analysis of five studies that included 4,260 stroke cases, the risk of stroke for individuals in the highest category of chocolate consumption was 19% lower compared with non-chocolate consumers. For every increase in chocolate consumption of 50 grams per week, or about a quarter-cup of chocolate chips, the risk of stroke decreased by about 14%.
"The beneficial effect of chocolate consumption on stroke may be related to the flavonoids in chocolate, Larsson said. "Flavonoids appear to be protective against cardiovascular disease through antioxidant, anti-clotting and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also possible that flavonoids in chocolate may decrease blood concentrations of bad cholesterol and reduce blood pressure.
"Interestingly, dark chocolate has previously been associated with heart health benefits, but about 90% of the chocolate intake in Sweden, including what was consumed during our study, is milk chocolate,," Larsson added.
The study appeared Aug. 29 on the website of Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study abstract is available at www.neurology.org/content/early/2012/08/29/WNL.0b013e31826aacfa.abstract.
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