Chocolate Boosts Heart Health in Older Women

Older women who eat chocolate once a week may reduce their risk for developing heart disease and cardiovascular-related problems later in life, according to a new study appearing in the November issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

As reported by PsychCentral, Researchers at University of Western Australia conducted a 10-year randomized controlled trial of 1,216 women over age 70 to determine the relationship between chocolate consumption and atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) events. The women were divided into three groups based their self-reported chocolate intake. More than 47 percent of the subjects had less than one serving of chocolate weekly, nearly 36 percent had between one and six servings per week, and nearly 17 percent had more than seven servings per week. The researchers examined plaque buildup in their arteries using B-mode carotid ultrasonography, as well as data from the Western Australian Data Linkage System to assess clinical outcomes and causes of death, to verify events independent of patient reporting.

Data revealed 158 ASVD events (27.3 percent) in the group that rarely consumed chocolate, compared with 90 events (20.7 percent ) in the group that consumed chocolate weekly, and 42 events (20.8 percent) in the group that consumed chocolate daily.

Results showed that hospitalization or death was less common in participants in the study who consumed chocolate frequently. Compared to non-chocolate eaters, women who consumed more frequently were at significantly lower risk for hospitalizations for or death of ischemic heart disease or heart failure.

Sources:

* PsychCentral: Chocolate Associated with Fewer Heart Problems in Women