Cocoa Extract - NutraPedia
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Cocoa Extract Overview
1) Conditions Studied
Cocoa extract has been studied for various health conditions including cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and cognitive function. Additionally, its potential effects on mood and depression have been explored, as well as its antioxidant properties and how they may protect against certain diseases.
2) Efficacy in Treating Conditions
The efficacy of cocoa extract in treating these conditions is mixed and still under research. Some studies suggest that cocoa extract can lower blood pressure, improve vascular function, and enhance cognitive performance, particularly in older adults. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and establish effective doses and long-term benefits.
3) Health Benefits
Cocoa extract is rich in flavonoids, which are associated with several health benefits. These include potential antioxidant effects, which may protect cells from damage, improve heart health by aiding in the reduction of LDL cholesterol and improving blood vessel health, and possibly even lowering the risk of diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity.
4) Potential Downsides
While cocoa extract is generally considered safe for most people, it can have downsides. It contains caffeine and theobromine, which can cause insomnia, nervousness, and increased heart rate in sensitive individuals. High consumption may also lead to unwanted weight gain due to its calorie content. Excessive intake might interfere with the absorption of calcium and magnesium.
5) Genetic Variations and Effects
Research on the interaction between cocoa extract and specific genetic variations is still emerging. Some genetic variations may influence how individuals metabolize the compounds in cocoa, affecting their potential benefits or risks. For example, certain genotypes related to the metabolism of caffeine could make some people more sensitive to the stimulatory effects of cocoa extract. However, comprehensive data on genetic interactions is currently limited, and more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions.
Impact of Cocoa Extract on Cardiovascular Health
Research has demonstrated that cocoa powder and dark chocolate possess higher levels of antioxidants, polyphenols, and flavanols compared to various "Super Fruits," suggesting that cacao seeds could be considered a "Super Fruit" themselves. These components are linked to significant nutritive value and potential health benefits.
Antioxidant and Procyanidin Content in Cocoa Products
Analyses of various cocoa and chocolate products revealed that natural cocoa powders exhibit the highest levels of antioxidants and procyanidins due to their high nonfat cocoa solid content. This high antioxidant capacity translates into potential health benefits, as procyanidins, the primary antioxidants present in chocolates, are associated with a significant amount of antioxidants in a single serving, surpassing many typical American foods. Alkalized cocoa powders, while still beneficial, contain reduced levels of these health-promoting compounds.
Flavanol Content and Cardiovascular Health
Flavan-3-ols, including monomers and procyanidins, were analyzed in chocolate and cocoa products, highlighting their potential positive impact on cardiovascular health. Specific flavan-3-ols like epicatechin and catechin are present in higher levels in cocoa powder and are closely correlated with cardiovascular health benefits. Studies suggest that these compounds contribute to vascular function and reduced inflammation.
Trace Minerals in Cocoa
Research into the levels of trace minerals such as copper, selenium, and molybdenum in foods, including cocoa, emphasizes the importance of monitoring these intake levels to establish reference intakes essential for health.
Neuroprotective Effects of Cocoa
Cocoa flavanols like (-)-epicatechin have been investigated for their neuroprotective properties, potentially contributing to improved brain function and offering therapeutic benefits for neurodegenerative diseases, including the vascular effects of cocoa on cerebral blood flow.
Conclusion
Overall, studies indicate that cocoa and chocolate products, particularly those rich in nonfat cocoa solids and flavanols, may offer a variety of health benefits, including antioxidant capacity, improved vascular function, and potential neuroprotective effects, positioning them as valuable components of a health-conscious diet.
References:
- Cacao seeds are a "Super Fruit": A comparative analysis of various fruit powders and products
- Procyanidin and catechin contents and antioxidant capacity of cocoa and chocolate products
- Survey of commercially available chocolate- and cocoa-containing products in the United States. 2. Comparison of flavan-3-ol content with nonfat cocoa solids, total polyphenols, and percent cacao
- The analysis of copper, selenium, and molybdenum contents in frequently consumed foods and an estimation of their daily intake in korean adults
- Determination of caffeine, myosmine, and nicotine in chocolate by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
- Polyphenols: food sources and bioavailability
- Evidence for a protective effect of polyphenols-containing foods on cardiovascular health: an update for clinicians
- Vascular action of polyphenols
- Fluorescent detection of (-)-epicatechin in microsamples from cacao seeds and cocoa products: Comparison with Folin-Ciocalteu method
- Flavanol and flavonol contents of cocoa powder products: influence of the manufacturing process
- Impact of fermentation, drying, roasting and Dutch processing on flavan-3-ol stereochemistry in cacao beans and cocoa ingredients
- Impact of alkalization on the antioxidant and flavanol content of commercial cocoa powders
- Flavanol-rich cocoa induces nitric-oxide-dependent vasodilation in healthy humans
- Effects of low habitual cocoa intake on blood pressure and bioactive nitric oxide: a randomized controlled trial
- Acute consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa and the reversal of endothelial dysfunction in smokers
- Vascular effects of cocoa rich in flavan-3-ols
- Sustained benefits in vascular function through flavanol-containing cocoa in medicated diabetic patients a double-masked, randomized, controlled trial
- Dose-dependent increases in flow-mediated dilation following acute cocoa ingestion in healthy older adults
- Effect of dark chocolate on arterial function in healthy individuals
- Sustained increase in flow-mediated dilation after daily intake of high-flavanol cocoa drink over 1 week
- Cocoa reduces blood pressure and insulin resistance and improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypertensives
- Blood pressure is reduced and insulin sensitivity increased in glucose-intolerant, hypertensive subjects after 15 days of consuming high-polyphenol dark chocolate
- (-)-epicatechin activation of endothelial cell endothelial nitric oxide synthase, nitric oxide, and related signaling pathways
- Red wine polyphenols enhance endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and subsequent nitric oxide release from endothelial cells
- (-)-Epicatechin-induced calcium independent eNOS activation: roles of HSP90 and AKT
- Cell membrane mediated (-)-epicatechin effects on upstream endothelial cell signaling: evidence for a surface receptor
- Dynamic Ca(2+) signal modalities in the vascular endothelium
- (-)-Epicatechin induces calcium and translocation independent eNOS activation in arterial endothelial cells
- Chocolate procyanidins decrease the leukotriene-prostacyclin ratio in humans and human aortic endothelial cells
- Unsweetened natural cocoa has anti-asthmatic potential
- Relaxant actions of nonprostanoid prostacyclin mimetics on human pulmonary artery
- Therapeutic advances: leukotriene antagonists for the treatment of asthma
- Theophylline: mechanism of action and use in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Cocoa procyanidins are stable during gastric transit in humans
- Food effects on the absorption and pharmacokinetics of cocoa flavanols
- Bioavailability of quercetin in pigs is influenced by the dietary fat content
- Hydroxytyrosol excretion differs between rats and humans and depends on the vehicle of administration
- Milk does not affect the bioavailability of cocoa powder flavonoid in healthy human
- Assessment of the effect of type of dairy product and of chocolate matrix on the oral absorption of monomeric chocolate flavanols in a small animal model
- Milk decreases urinary excretion but not plasma pharmacokinetics of cocoa flavan-3-ol metabolites in humans
- Cocoa consumption for 2 wk enhances insulin-mediated vasodilatation without improving blood pressure or insulin resistance in essential hypertension
- Dark chocolate acutely improves walking autonomy in patients with peripheral artery disease
- NOX2-mediated arterial dysfunction in smokers: acute effect of dark chocolate
- Dark chocolate inhibits platelet isoprostanes via NOX2 down-regulation in smokers
- Dark chocolate consumption improves leukocyte adhesion factors and vascular function in overweight men
- Chocolate flavanols and skin photoprotection: a parallel, double-blind, randomized clinical trial
- Influence of cocoa flavanols and procyanidins on free radical-induced human erythrocyte hemolysis
- Procyanidin dimer B2 [epicatechin-(4beta-8)-epicatechin] in human plasma after the consumption of a flavanol-rich cocoa
- Plant-derived flavanol (-)epicatechin enhances angiogenesis and retention of spatial memory in mice
- Uptake and metabolism of epicatechin and its access to the brain after oral ingestion
- Sugar, opioids and binge eating
- Reward systems and food intake: role of opioids
- Immediate effects of chocolate on experimentally induced mood states
- SNAP-25 in hippocampal CA3 region is required for long-term memory formation
- Overexpression of motor protein KIF17 enhances spatial and working memory in transgenic mice
- Appetite suppression through smelling of dark chocolate correlates with changes in ghrelin in young women
- The effect of flavanol-rich cocoa on the fMRI response to a cognitive task in healthy young people
- The relationship between reaction time, error rate and anterior cingulate cortex activity
- Chocolate consumption and risk of stroke: a prospective cohort of men and meta-analysis
- Dark chocolate intake buffers stress reactivity in humans
- Effect of light therapy on biopterin, neopterin and tryptophan in patients with seasonal affective disorder
- Increased neopterin and interferon-gamma secretion and lower availability of L-tryptophan in major depression: further evidence for an immune response
- The kynurenine pathway in brain tumor pathogenesis
- Neopterin production, tryptophan degradation, and mental depression--what is the link?
- Cacao extracts suppress tryptophan degradation of mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells
- The serotonin signaling system: from basic understanding to drug development for functional GI disorders
- Cocoa polyphenols enhance positive mood states but not cognitive performance: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
- Benefits in cognitive function, blood pressure, and insulin resistance through cocoa flavanol consumption in elderly subjects with mild cognitive impairment: the Cocoa, Cognition, and Aging (CoCoA) study
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of the effects of dark chocolate and cocoa on variables associated with neuropsychological functioning and cardiovascular health: clinical findings from a sample of healthy, cognitively intact older adults
- Enhancing dentate gyrus function with dietary flavanols improves cognition in older adults
- Inhibition of key digestive enzymes by cocoa extracts and procyanidins
- (-)-Epicatechin enhances fatigue resistance and oxidative capacity in mouse muscle
- Chocolate consumption and cardiometabolic disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis
- Chocolate intake and incidence of heart failure: a population-based prospective study of middle-aged and elderly women
- Cocoa intake, blood pressure, and cardiovascular mortality: the Zutphen Elderly Study
- Cocoa and cardiovascular health
- Acute effect of oral flavonoid-rich dark chocolate intake on coronary circulation, as compared with non-flavonoid white chocolate, by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography in healthy adults
- Effects of dark chocolate and cocoa consumption on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in overweight adults
- Blood pressure and endothelial function in healthy, pregnant women after acute and daily consumption of flavanol-rich chocolate: a pilot, randomized controlled trial
- Effects of caffeine on vascular resistance, cardiac output and myocardial contractility in young men
- Inhibitory effects of cocoa flavanols and procyanidin oligomers on free radical-induced erythrocyte hemolysis
- Mechanisms, pathophysiology, and therapy of arterial stiffness
- The role of vitamin K in soft-tissue calcification
- Coronary artery calcium for the prediction of mortality in young adults <45 years old and elderly adults >75 years old
- Central arterial hemodynamic effects of dark chocolate ingestion in young healthy people: a randomized and controlled trial
- Inhibition of in vitro low-density lipoprotein oxidation by oligomeric procyanidins present in chocolate and cocoas
- Inhibition of LDL oxidation by cocoa
- Polyphenolic flavanols as scavengers of aqueous phase radicals and as chain-breaking antioxidants
- Effects of cocoa powder and dark chocolate on LDL oxidative susceptibility and prostaglandin concentrations in humans
- Flavonoid-rich dark chocolate improves endothelial function and increases plasma epicatechin concentrations in healthy adults
- Effect of dark chocolate on nitric oxide serum levels and blood pressure in prehypertension subjects
- Cocoa flavanols lower vascular arginase activity in human endothelial cells in vitro and in erythrocytes in vivo
- Effect of cocoa flavanols and exercise on cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese subjects
- The stereochemical configuration of flavanols influences the level and metabolism of flavanols in humans and their biological activity in vivo
- (-)-Epicatechin mediates beneficial effects of flavanol-rich cocoa on vascular function in humans
- Dark chocolate improves endothelial and platelet function
- Acute dark chocolate and cocoa ingestion and endothelial function: a randomized controlled crossover trial
- Characterisation of hypertensive patients with improved endothelial function after dark chocolate consumption
- Acute and chronic effects of flavanol-rich cocoa on vascular function in subjects with coronary artery disease: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study
- Effects of cocoa extract and dark chocolate on angiotensin-converting enzyme and nitric oxide in human endothelial cells and healthy volunteers--a nutrigenomics perspective
- Effect of dark chocolate on arterial function in healthy individuals: cocoa instead of ambrosia?
- Regular consumption of a flavanol-rich chocolate can improve oxidant stress in young soccer players
- Protective effects of flavanol-rich dark chocolate on endothelial function and wave reflection during acute hyperglycemia
- Effect of cocoa on blood pressure
- Does chocolate reduce blood pressure? A meta-analysis
- Safety and efficacy of cocoa flavanol intake in healthy adults: a randomized, controlled, double-masked trial
- Protective effects of (-)-epicatechin against nitrative modifications of fibrinogen
- Interference of the polyphenol epicatechin with the biological chemistry of nitric oxide- and peroxynitrite-mediated reactions
- Peroxynitrite-mediated modification of fibrinogen affects platelet aggregation and adhesion
- Independent association between lower level of social support and higher coagulation activity before and after acute psychosocial stress
- Coagulation activity before and after acute psychosocial stress increases with age
- Effects of dark chocolate consumption on the prothrombotic response to acute psychosocial stress in healthy men
- Dark chocolate effect on platelet activity, C-reactive protein and lipid profile: a pilot study
- Cocoa inhibits platelet activation and function
- The effects of flavanol-rich cocoa and aspirin on ex vivo platelet function
- Flavan-3-ol-enriched dark chocolate and white chocolate improve acute measures of platelet function in a gender-specific way--a randomized-controlled human intervention trial
- Effects of cocoa products/dark chocolate on serum lipids: a meta-analysis
- Short-term administration of dark chocolate is followed by a significant increase in insulin sensitivity and a decrease in blood pressure in healthy persons
- The effect of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate on fasting capillary whole blood glucose, total cholesterol, blood pressure and glucocorticoids in healthy overweight and obese subjects
- Alterations in skeletal muscle indicators of mitochondrial structure and biogenesis in patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure: effects of epicatechin rich cocoa
- Reciprocal relationships between insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction: molecular and pathophysiological mechanisms
- Insulin-mediated skeletal muscle vasodilation is nitric oxide dependent. A novel action of insulin to increase nitric oxide release
- Evidence for physiological coupling of insulin-mediated glucose metabolism and limb blood flow
- Effects of dark chocolate in a population of normal weight obese women: a pilot study
- Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist: role in biology
- Increased plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist levels in men with visceral obesity
- Leptin actions on food intake and body temperature are mediated by IL-1
- IL-1 receptor antagonist serum levels are increased in human obesity: a possible link to the resistance to leptin?
- Consumption of high-polyphenol dark chocolate improves endothelial function in individuals with stage 1 hypertension and excess body weight
- Targeting the skeletal muscle-metabolism axis in prostate-cancer therapy
- Quadrupling muscle mass in mice by targeting TGF-beta signaling pathways
- Effects of (-)-epicatechin on molecular modulators of skeletal muscle growth and differentiation
- Flavan-3-ol fraction from cocoa powder promotes mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle in mice
- (-)-Epicatechin is associated with increased angiogenic and mitochondrial signalling in the hindlimb of rats selectively bred for innate low running capacity
- The effect of acute pre-exercise dark chocolate consumption on plasma antioxidant status, oxidative stress and immunoendocrine responses to prolonged exercise
- Regular dark chocolate consumption's reduction of oxidative stress and increase of free-fatty-acid mobilization in response to prolonged cycling
- Effect of elevated blood FFA levels on endurance performance after a single fat meal ingestion
- PGC-1alpha is required for training-induced prevention of age-associated decline in mitochondrial enzymes in mouse skeletal muscle
- Artificial selection for intrinsic aerobic endurance running capacity in rats
- Skeletal muscle mitochondrial and metabolic responses to a high-fat diet in female rats bred for high and low aerobic capacity
- Gene expression centroids that link with low intrinsic aerobic exercise capacity and complex disease risk
- Low intrinsic running capacity is associated with reduced skeletal muscle substrate oxidation and lower mitochondrial content in white skeletal muscle
- (-)-Epicatechin maintains endurance training adaptation in mice after 14 days of detraining
- Adhesion molecules and atherosclerosis
- Effect of cocoa flavanols and their related oligomers on the secretion of interleukin-5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells
- Flavonoids from Theobroma cacao down-regulate inflammatory mediators
- Epicatechin suppresses IL-6, IL-8 and enhances IL-10 production with NF-kappaB nuclear translocation in whole blood stimulated system
- Anti-inflammatory properties of clovamide and Theobroma cacao phenolic extracts in human monocytes: evaluation of respiratory burst, cytokine release, NF-κB activation, and PPARγ modulation
- Accurate assessment of the bioactivities of redox-active polyphenolics in cell culture
- Immune effects of cocoa procyanidin oligomers on peripheral blood mononuclear cells
- Immunomodulatory properties of cacao extracts - potential consequences for medical applications
- Involvement of reactive oxygen species in Toll-like receptor 4-dependent activation of NF-kappa B
- Neopterin release from human endothelial cells is triggered by interferon-gamma
- Different lymphoid cell populations produce varied levels of neopterin, beta 2-microglobulin and soluble IL-2 receptor when stimulated with IL-2, interferon-gamma or tumour necrosis factor-alpha
- Decreased serum tryptophan in patients with HIV-1 infection correlates with increased serum neopterin and with neurologic/psychiatric symptoms
- Interferon gamma and the growth of Toxoplasma gondii in fibroblasts
- Peroxide and pteridine: a hypothesis on the regulation of macrophage antimicrobial activity by interferon gamma
- The association between specific nutritional antioxidants and manifestation of colorectal cancer
- Key mediators in the immunopathogenesis of allergic asthma
- HIV and antiretroviral therapy in the brain: neuronal injury and repair
- Human immunodeficiency virus-associated dementia: an evolving disease
- Mitochondria in neuroplasticity and neurological disorders
- Catechins protect neurons against mitochondrial toxins and HIV proteins via activation of the BDNF pathway
- The cocoa flavanol (-)-epicatechin protects the cortisol response
- Prebiotic evaluation of cocoa-derived flavanols in healthy humans by using a randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover intervention study
- Flavanol monomer-induced changes to the human faecal microflora
- Effect of tea phenolics and their aromatic fecal bacterial metabolites on intestinal microbiota
- The effect of non-protein liquid meals on the hepatic venous pressure gradient in patients with cirrhosis
- Postprandial changes in portal haemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis
- Low doses of isosorbide mononitrate attenuate the postprandial increase in portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis
- Ascorbic acid improves the intrahepatic endothelial dysfunction of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension
- Postprandial effects of dark chocolate on portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis: results of a phase 2, double-blind, randomized controlled trial
- Effects of (-)-epicatechin, a flavonoid on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in streptozotocin-induced diabetic liver, kidney and heart
- Effect of dark chocolate on renal tissue oxygenation as measured by BOLD-MRI in healthy volunteers
- The short-term effect of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate on retinal vessel diameter in glaucoma patients and age-matched controls
- Recovery of Indicators of Mitochondrial Biogenesis, Oxidative Stress, and Aging With (-)-Epicatechin in Senile Mice
- Long-term ingestion of high flavanol cocoa provides photoprotection against UV-induced erythema and improves skin condition in women
- Cocoa Flavanol Supplementation Influences Skin Conditions of Photo-Aged Women: A 24-Week Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial
- Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study Assessing the Effect of Chocolate Consumption in Subjects with a History of Acne Vulgaris
- Foods as the cause of acne
- Exacerbation of facial acne vulgaris after consuming pure chocolate
- The NOX family of ROS-generating NADPH oxidases: physiology and pathophysiology
- Imbalance between nitric oxide generation and oxidative stress in patients with peripheral arterial disease: effect of an antioxidant treatment
- Dark chocolate and vascular function in patients with peripheral artery disease: a randomized, controlled cross-over trial
- Losses in gross brain volume and cerebral blood flow account for age-related differences in speed but not in fluid intelligence
- Late-onset dementia: structural brain damage and total cerebral blood flow
- Intake of flavonoids and risk of dementia
- Fruit polyphenolics and brain aging: nutritional interventions targeting age-related neuronal and behavioral deficits
- Cocoa flavanols and brain perfusion
- Cerebral correlates of the progression rate of the cognitive decline in probable Alzheimer's disease
- Preclinical prediction of Alzheimer's disease using SPECT
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