Study: Dark chocolate improves blood vessel health
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Study: Dark chocolate improves blood vessel health
Our Review Summary
This news report describes a study which suggests that dark chocolate might be healthy for the heart. It provides some background on flavonols, the constituent in dark chocolate that might be beneficial, notes some of the potential harms associated with this "chocolate therapy," and includes interviews with three experts who are mostly enthusiastic about the study’s findings. Yet the story fails to examine the rigor of the new evidence.
The researchers enrolled 39 people. Were there enough subjects to muster the statistical power needed to answer their question? Could the improvements in blood flow be the result of chance? Did the researchers account for other factors that might affect arterial blood flow? What are the true benefits of improvements in blood flow to an arm? Is there research to suggest that they correspond to any outcome of clinical significance, such as rates of heart attack, stroke, or death? What else could patients do to derive the same apparent benefit without the fat and calories of chocolate? Could they take a low-cost, fat-free, calorie-burning walk once a day? The story answers none of these.
The study appears to be one small, preliminary step in the investigation of a scientific hypothesis. Readers should not be left with the impression that consuming chocolate every six hours is a sound, scientifically proven, good idea.
Criteria
Not Applicable
Thought there was no discussion of cost, most people have a general idea how much cocoa costs.
Not Satisfactory
The story fails to describe the improvement in blood flow in absolute terms, instead noting only relative or percent improvement (e.g. 37% compared to baseline for consumption of artificially sweetened cocoa). The reported 37% improvement is much greater than that reported in a press release from the American College of Cardiology (2.4% over baseline); the reason for the discrepancy is unclear.
Satisfactory
The story notes that chocolate is laden with fat and calories, potentially harmful in people who are already overweight or obese.
Not Satisfactory
This story is based on the preliminary results of a small, unpublished study presented at a national cardiology meeting. The researchers fed three different foods (two types of chocolate and a placebo whey powder) to 39 people during three separate 6-week trials, and then after each trial used ultrasound to measure arterial blood flow in the arms of their subjects, a test that purportedly “corresponds well to heart disease.” Unfortunately, the story says little about the methodological shortcomings inherent in such a research design. Are there enough subjects in the study to muster the statistical power to answer the question being asked—or could the improvements in blood flow be the result of chance? Did the researchers account for other factors that might affect arterial blood flow, such as exercise routines? Is there research to suggest that the observed differences in arterial blood flow correspond to any outcome of clinical significance, such as rates of heart attack, stroke, or death? This news report says nothing about such potential limitations. We suspect many observers would say that this study simply raises an interesting question, but certainly doesn’t answer it. Despite the researcher’s assertion–"This tells you that it (cocoa) is cardio-protective"–the data seem only to show that cocoa simply relaxes smooth muscle in the arm.
Satisfactory
The story contains no obvious elements of disease-mongering.
Satisfactory
The report cites three sources and their credentials, but mentions a potential conflict of interest for only the lead author, who received funding from Hershey and the CDC. It is impossible to judge the independence of the other sources. Nonethless, we'll give the story the benefit of the doubt.
Not Satisfactory
The report neglects to mention “treatments” other than chocolate that might improve the endothelial function of these subjects. Among these is low-cost, fat-free, calorie-burning exercise.
Satisfactory
Though it would seem reasonable to think that the Hershey’s cocoa mixes used in this study are available on grocery store shelves, it’s impossible to know. (It’s not readily clear from Hershey’s web site either.) Nonethless, we'll give the story the benefit of the doubt on this criterion.
Satisfactory
The story says this is the “latest in a growing number” of studies in this area.
Satisfactory
The report includes some information that was widely available in press releases, but also additional information that goes beyond the press releases.
Total Score: 6 of 9 Satisfactory
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