Cocoa flavanols reduce N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with chronic heart failure.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Poor prognosis in chronic heart failure (HF) is linked to endothelial dysfunction for which there is no specific treatment currently available. Previous studies have shown reproducible improvements in endothelial function with cocoa flavanols, but the clinical benefit of this effect in chronic HF has yet to be determined. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the potential therapeutic value of a high dose of cocoa flavanols in patients with chronic HF, by using reductions in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as an index of improved cardiac function.

Methods and results

Thirty-two patients with chronic HF, stable on guideline-directed medical therapy, were randomized to consume 50 g/day of high-flavanol dark chocolate (HFDC; 1064 mg of flavan

SUBMITTER: De Palma R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4985700 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature