EATING CHOCOLATE could be associated with a one-third reduction in the risk of developing heart disease, a study from the University of Cambridge suggests.
Researchers from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care analysed the results of seven previous studies involving more than 100,000 participants.
For each study they compared the group with the highest chocolate consumption against the group with the lowest.
Presenting the results at the European Society of Cardiology congress yesterday, Dr Oscar Franco said the studies did not differentiate between eating dark or milk chocolate, but included the consumption of chocolate drinks and desserts as well as chocolate bars.
In a paper published simultaneously by the British Medical Journal, Dr Franco and his colleagues said “the highest levels of chocolate consumption were associated with a 37 per cent reduction in cardiovascular disease and a 29 per cent reduction in stroke compared with lowest levels”.
However, he stressed the studies were all observational in type and so other reasons for the reduction in disease could not be ruled out.
Previous research has shown the benefit of chocolate on health due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These include reducing blood pressure and improving the effectiveness of insulin which, in turn, helps to slow down the development of diabetes.
Asked to define the optimum dose of chocolate to bring about cardiovascular benefits, Dr Franco said his study was unable to quantify this.
He told The Irish Timesthere was evidence from other research showing chocolate increased levels of the feel- good brain chemical, endorphin.
He called for further research to be carried out to test his findings and warned it was too early to rewrite guidelines for healthy eating and lifestyle.
He also suggested that initiatives to reduce the current fat and sugar content in most chocolate products should be explored.
Meanwhile, Danish researchers told the conference the intensity of cycling rather than the duration of pedalling was the key to reducing deaths from heart attacks.
The study of cyclists in Copenhagen concluded men who undertook fast intensity cycling survived 5.3 years longer than men who cycled at a slow pace. Women survived 3.9 years longer if they cycled intensely.
Prof Peter Schnor of the Bispebjerg University Hospital said: “This study suggests that a greater part of the daily physical activity in leisure time should be vigorous, based on the individual’s own perception of intensity.”
Current recommendations suggest adults should undertake 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity for at least five days a week.