A meta-analysis of cardioprotective benefits of chocolate consumption

January 01, 0001

A meta-analysis of cardioprotective benefits of chocolate consumption

Chocolate has been proposed to have a potential cardiovascular benefit. These UK and Colombian researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to address whether chocolate consumption has an affect on the developing cardiometabolic disorders. They searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, IPA, Web of Science, Scopus, Pascal, and references from studies for randomized, cohort, case-control, and cross sectional studies. Of 4576 references, seven studies (114,009 enrollees) met the inclusion criteria.

The researchers found: "Large variation was observed between these seven studies for measurement of chocolate consumption, methods, and outcomes evaluated. Five of the seven studies reported a beneficial association between higher levels of chocolate consumption and the risk of cardiometabolic disorders. The highest levels of chocolate consumption were associated with a 37% reduction in cardiovascular disease (relative risk 0.63) and a 29% reduction in stroke compared with the lowest levels."

The researchers concluded: "Based on observational evidence, levels of chocolate consumption seem to be associated with a substantial reduction in the risk of cardiometabolic disorders. Further experimental studies are required to confirm a potentially beneficial effect of chocolate consumption."

This meta-analysis provides further evidence that consumption of chocolate may have a cardometabolic benefit, but further study is warranted.

For the full abstract, click here.

BMJ 343:d4488, 29 August 2011 © 2011 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
Chocolate consumption and cardiometabolic disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis. driana Buitrago-Lopez, Jean Sanderson, Laura Johnson, et al. Correspondence to O H Franco: ohf22@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Category: K. Circulatory, T. Endocrine/Metabolic/Nutritional. Keywords: chocolate, consumption, stroke, myocardial infarction, metabolic syndrome, systematic review with meta-analysis, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 23 September 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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