Dark chocolate rich in cocoa may have a powerful ability to prevent men from heart disease and other illnesses linked to blood clotting, according to Scottish researchers.
Laboratory studies of blood supplied by volunteers have shown how the substance prevents clotting, the researchers say.
The research is the latest to study the possible health benefits of dark chocolate because it is packed with chemicals called flavanols. It suggests men can benefit more from chocolate than women.
One set of volunteers ate a dark chocolate enriched in cocoa while a second group ate white chocolate.
Their blood was analysed periods of two hours and six hours after the chocolate was eaten.
The researchers found the dark chocolate seemed to help reduce the rate of platelet aggregation – or clot formation – in both men and women. But it only seemed to prevent a second process, platelet activation, in men, according to a report in Molecular Nutrition Food Research.
Researcher Dr Baukje de Roos, from the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, said: "It was especially interesting to see that both men and women had improvements in their platelet function, but in different ways. The strength of the effects seems to be more pronounced in men.
"Nevertheless, it is important to remember that these findings are not a carte blanche to eat chocolates as they are extremely rich in fat and sugar. But if you are going to eat chocolate – and there will be plenty on offer over the festive spell – it’s better to choose dark chocolate, containing at least 70% cocoa."
Molecular Nutrition Food Research December 21 2012
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