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Flavanol-rich cocoa ameliorates lipemia-induced endothelial dysfunction

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Abstract

Consumption of flavanols improves chronic endothelial dysfunction. We investigated whether it can also improve acute lipemia-induced endothelial dysfunction. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial, 18 healthy subjects received a fatty meal with cocoa either rich in flavanols (918 mg) or flavanol-poor. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), triglycerides, and free fatty acids were then determined over 6 h. After the flavanol-poor fat loading, the FMD deteriorated over 4 h. The consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa, in contrast, improved this deterioration in hours 2, 3, and 4 without abolishing it completely. Flavanols did not have any influence on triglycerides or on free fatty acids. Flavanol-rich cocoa can alleviate the lipemia-induced endothelial dysfunction, probably through an improvement in endothelial NO synthase.

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  1. Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Magdeburg University Hospital, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    Sabine Westphal & Claus Luley

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  1. Sabine Westphal
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  2. Claus Luley
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Correspondence to Sabine Westphal.

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Westphal, S., Luley, C. Flavanol-rich cocoa ameliorates lipemia-induced endothelial dysfunction. Heart Vessels 26, 511–515 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-010-0085-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-010-0085-1

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