Chocolate blood pressure lowering trial

Background:

Persons with high-normal blood pressure or prehypertension and grade I hypertension have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. According to current recommendations of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) persons with high-normal blood pressure and grade I hypertension with a maximum of 2 additional risk factors and no evidence or history of cardiovascular disease are aimed at improving life style. Dark chocolate might be a possible non-pharmacological intervention to lower blood pressure in addition to life style advice.


Objective:
To assess the effect of cocoa-containing drinks on blood pressure in untreated subjects with high normal blood pressure (prehypertension) or grade I hypertension as measured by 24-hours ambulatory blood pressure.


Study design:

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over trial.


Study population:
42 healthy human volunteers, men and postmenopausal women, 40 - 70 yrs old, with high-normal blood pressure or grade I hypertension (blood pressure between 130-159 and/ or 85-99 mmHg) with a maximum of 2 risk factors according to the 2007 ESH guidelines and who have not received anti-hypertensive treatment the last 6 weeks.


Intervention:
Three weeks daily consumption of a cocoa drinks


Main study parameters/endpoints:
Difference in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure for both cocoa treatments compared to the placebo treatment.

Dark chocolate containing drinks lower blood pressure in prehypertensive and grade I hypertensive subjects with 2 or less additional cardiovascular risk factors and theobromine is an essential component of cocoa for obtaining a blood pressure lowering effect

Aim: inclusion finalized by april 2008

Three weeks daily consumption of a cocoa drink rich in flavanols and rich in theobromine, a cocoa drink rich in flavanols but low in theobromine and a placebo drink in random order. In between 2 weeks washout periods.