Reduction of blood pressure at rest and during standardized exercise after regular chocolate consumption

Introduction: In addition to drug therapy, blood pressure (BP) can also be favorably influenced by non-drug therapy such as exercise and weight reduction. The following study should investigate whether a positive effect on BP regulation can also be achieved with polyphenol-rich dark chocolate. Since the BP during exercise is better associated with end-organ alterations and future cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, regardless of the BP at rest, the effect of dark chocolate on the BP reaction was investigated not only at rest but also especially during physical exercise. Methods: 34 normotensive, healthy men (40 +/- 12 years) consumed 100 g dark chocolate (cocoa content 70 %) once daily for a period of 6 weeks. BP was measured before the start of the study and after 6 weeks at rest as well as during and after standardized submaximal exercise on the bicycle ergometer (50-100 watts, increments of 10 watts/minute). Results: Systolic and diastolic BP at rest were lower after chocolate intake (127 +/- 9/84 +/- 9 mmHg) when compared to baseline (130 +/- 11/87 +/- 9 mmHg). During the exercise test (100 watts), the systolic BP decreased from 167 +/- 17 to 162 +/- 18 mmHg (p = 0.001) and the diastolic BP from 87 +/- 10 to 83 +/- 11 mmHg (p = 0.011). The body weight was unchanged after the observation period. Conclusion: The present data provide that inclusion of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate as part of usual diet in healthy individuals can not only further reduce the BP at rest but also during exercise, even in normotensive patients. Potential side effects such as weight gain and deterioration in glucose and lipid metabolism were not found.