Is Chocolate Good for Diabetes?

It seems counter-intuitive: chocolate good for diabetes? Isn't chocolate the stuff that causes diabetes in the first place? According to researchers, the key is high-flavonol content. Flavanols are a class of flavanoids; a pigment found in certain plants. These pigments have long been thought to have a beneficial effect on heart health. Flavanoids are found in dark chocolate (as opposed to milk chocolate).

Researchers have published data showing that flavanol-enriched hot cocoa beverage may improve blood flow in people with type 2 diabetes. The study, reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, looked at 41 people, which were divided into two groups. One group drank flavanol-enriched cocoa beverage daily. The other group drank cocoa that was not enriched with flavanoids. The results showed a 30% improvement in vascular function on average in the flavanol-enriched group.

Keep in mind that the researchers involved in this study were employed by Symbioscience, a division of candy makers Mars Inc. This branch of the Mars company was recently established to research the potential health benefits of chocolate. Of course, results that favor chocolate will also favor Symbioscience, so caution must be taken when interpreting the results. If anything, the study is promising, but clearly more study by non-biased research sources is needed.

Christi Larson, Pharm. D. is a Clinical Infusion Pharmacist, author of Empowered Medicine; A Guide for Consumers and creator of www.empoweredmedicine.com. You can read more about her by visiting www.EmpoweredMedicine.com and clicking on the 'About Us' tab. EmpoweredMedicine.com is committed to providing evidence-based medical information.