Cocoa extract intake for 4 weeks reduces postprandial systolic blood pressure response of obese subjects, even after following an energy-restricted diet

摘要

AbstractBackground: Cardiometabolic profile is usually altered in obesity. Interestingly, the consumption of flavanolrichfoods might be protective against those metabolic alterations.Objective: To evaluate the postprandial cardiometabolic effects after the acute consumption of cocoa extractbefore and after 4 weeks of its daily intake. Furthermore, the bioavailability of cocoa extract was investigated.Design: Twenty-four overweight/obese middle-aged subjects participated in a 4-week intervention study. Halfof the volunteers consumed a test meal enriched with 1.4 g of cocoa extract (415 mg flavanols), while the restof the volunteers consumed the same meal without the cocoa extract (control group). Glucose and lipidprofile, as well as blood pressure and cocoa metabolites in plasma, were assessed before and at 60, 120, and180 min post-consumption, at the beginning of the study (Postprandial 1) and after following a 4-week 15%energy-restricted diet including meals containing or not containing the cocoa extract (Postprandial 2).Results: In the Postprandial 1 test, the area under the curve (AUC) of systolic blood pressure (SBP) wassignificantly higher in the cocoa group compared with the control group (p 0.007), showing significantdifferences after 120 min of intake. However, no differences between groups were observed at Postprandial 2.Interestingly, the reduction of postprandial AUC of SBP (AUC_Postprandial 2-AUC_Postprandial 1) washigher in the cocoa group (p 0.016). Furthermore, cocoa-derived metabolites were detected in plasma of thecocoa group, while the absence or significantly lower amounts of metabolites were found in the control group.Conclusions: The daily consumption of cocoa extract within an energy-restricted diet for 4 weeks resulted in agreater reduction of postprandial AUC of SBP compared with the effect of energy-restricted diet alone andindependently of body weight loss. These results suggest the role of cocoa flavanols on postprandial bloodpressure homeostasis.