Studies on dark chocolate, omega-3s in the news

April 06, 2007 - With all that is out there about various supplements, it makes one wonder about the validity of their claims. Have studies been done? If so, were they done by non-partial, authoritative sources? When it comes to your health, it is vital not to take every claim at face value. Recently, however, there have been some very solid, encouraging new studies presented regarding the healthful benefits of dark chocolate, omega-3s and other well-known natural supplements.

In May 2004, I wrote a newsletter talking about an incredible herb that could have remarkable heart benefits. The herb is called hawthorn. At that time, there was an ongoing study in seven European countries evaluating over 2,300 patients for potential heart benefits of hawthorn. Last week at the American College of Cardiology scientific meeting in New Orleans, Dr. Christian Holubarsch reported on the results of this study1. The study involved 2,681 people with advanced heart failure who were taking standard drug therapy to improve the pumping ability of the heart. Half of the group was given hawthorn extract pills twice a day while the other half was given placebo. At six months, 5% of those taking placebo had died compared to 3% in the supplement group. Eighteen months later, 12 % of the patients had died on placebo with 9½% dying taking the supplements. At that point, it was noted that the risk of dying was 20% lower in those taking the extract. Interestingly, by 24 months, about 14% of people had died in both groups. It was estimated that at 1½ years, the hawthorn treated group survived on average four additional months. The herb was well tolerated. It was felt that additional evaluation of this potentially important nutrient was in order.

There was another study that was presented at the recent American College of Cardiology scientific meeting concerning dark chocolate2. The small study involved 45 people. During the six-week trial, 15 of the people were given 8 oz of cocoa without sugar, 15 were given cocoa with sugar and the last 15 were given placebo. Measurement of the blood flow and ability to relax the arteries was measured before and after the daily cocoa or placebo consumption. It was found that both cocoa groups had improvement of flow mediated dilation of the arteries with the cocoa, the cocoa without sugar having the best benefit. Dr. Njike from the Yale Prevention Research Center who was the co-investigator of the study, indicated "While the findings from this study do not suggest that people should start eating more chocolate as part of their daily routine, it does suggest that we pay more attention to how dark chocolate and other flavanoid-rich foods might offer cardiovascular benefits."

There were a couple of other interesting studies worth mentioning. In the March 2007 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 78 young men between the ages of 16 to 24 participated in a study3. Researchers measured bone density and checked the blood levels of fatty acids periodically. It was found that those men with the highest blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, were linked to greater bone mineral density in the body and spine. He also has noted that the omega-3 fatty acids might influence bone formation by affecting calcium metabolism in the formation of collagen.

Finally, I would like to mention a clinical trial that is just getting underway being sponsored by the federal government. They are testing creatine in patients with Parkinson's disease. The study, out of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (one of the divisions of NIH), will recruit 1,720 people with early stage Parkinson's disease across the United States and Canada. Both the patients and doctors will not know who is getting the creatine and who the placebo. The study is scheduled to last for three to five years. It has been shown in mice that creatine can prevent the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. There was also a study just published in the March-April 2007 edition of Neuro Rehabilitation Neural Repair4. In this study out of Columbia University, twenty patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease were randomized to receive either creatine monohydrate plus resistance training or placebo with resistance training in a double-blinded fashion. The creatine was administered at 20 grams a day for five days and then 5 grams a day thereafter. It was found that those patients given the creatine with resistance training seemed to have enhanced benefits compared to the placebo group.

1. Holubarsch C and Fonarow G, March 27, 2007, presentation, American College of Cardiology annual meeting, New Orleans.

2. Nijike VY, et al "Effects of Sustained Ingestion of Cocoa on Endothelial Function in Adults with BMI between 25-35 kg/m2: A Randomized, Single Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial" ACC meeting 2007; Abstract 1026-34.

3.Högström M, Nordström P and Nordström A, "n-3 fatty acids are positively association with peak bone mineral density and bone accrual in healthy men: the NO2 study", The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2007, Volume 85, Pages 803-807.

4. Hass CJ, Collins MA, Juncos JL, Resistance training with creatine monohydrate improves upper-body strength in patients with Parkinson disease: a randomized trial, Neurorehabilitation Neural Repair. 2007;21(2):107-15.