The Effects of Dark Chocolate on Blood Pressure in Individuals With Mildly Elevated Blood Pressure (CHOKO)

University of Helsinki

Status: Completed

Conditions: Blood Pressure

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Dark chocolate; Other: Dietary counselling

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT02130141

HY-RAV-FAZ-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

The evidence linking chocolate with lowered blood pressure has been observed. However, the interventions have been short, at most 4 weeks. The aim of this study is to find out if the habitual consumption of dark chocolate for 8 weeks has an effect on blood pressure. Also, more insight to the mechanisms linking chocolate to individual healt-responses is needed.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 25 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• age 25-65 years
• resting systolic pressure 140-159 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure 90-99 mmHg
• BMI 25.0- 29.9

Exclusion criteria

• smoking
• regular medication for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or asthma

Trial design

30 participants in 2 patient groups

Dark chocolate, dietary counselling

Experimental group

Description:

Mildly hypertensive subject will replace their usual snacks with with 50 g dark chocolate daily for a period of 8 weeks.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Dark chocolate

Dietary counselling

Active Comparator group

Description:

Usual snacks are limited.

Treatment:

Other: Dietary counselling

Dietary Supplement: Dark chocolate