Chocolate May Cut Women's Stroke Risk
Chocolate May Cut Women's Stroke Risk
Study Shows Just 2 Chocolate Bars a Week May Reduce the Risk of Stroke
Oct. 10, 2011 -- A healthy chocolate habit -- about two chocolate bars a week -- appears to help women reduce their risk of stroke, according to new research.
The new Swedish study echoes previous research in men and women. It also adds new information.
"The protection started at more than 45 grams [about 1.5 ounces] a week," says researcher Susanna C. Larsson, PhD, of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.
The group eating the most chocolate got the most benefit, reducing stroke intake by 20%. In this group, the median intake (half ate more, half less) was about 2.3 ounces a week.
The research is published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
While other studies have found a link between eating chocolate and reduced stroke risk, this research found a slight difference in protection, depending on type of stroke. Those who ate the most chocolate were protected a bit more from strokes caused by hemorrhage than strokes caused by obstruction such as blood clots. Larsson isn't sure why.
The Sweet History of Chocolate
Larsson followed 33,372 women, ages 49 to 83, for 10 years, until late 2008. They were enrolled in the Swedish Mammography Cohort. They answered questions about how often they had eaten chocolate and 95 other foods during the year before.
Larsson separated them into eight categories, depending on the amount of chocolate eaten. The groups ranged from "never" to "3 or more times a day."
During the follow-up, 1,549 strokes occurred. Of the total, 1,200 were caused by clots or other disturbances in the blood vessels. Another 224 were caused by burst vessels. The causes of the other 125 were not specified.
Even after adjusting for factors linked with stroke, Larsson found the chocolate was protective.
The protective benefits of chocolate are due, she says, to the flavonoids in the cocoa. They have antioxidant properties. They protect the body from damage by substances called free radicals. These can harm the cardiovascular system.
The study was supported by the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research, the Swedish Research Council/Committee for Infrastructure, and a grant from the Karolinska Institutet.
Chocolate May Cut Women's Stroke Risk
Study Shows Just 2 Chocolate Bars a Week May Reduce the Risk of Stroke
Oct. 10, 2011 -- A healthy chocolate habit -- about two chocolate bars a week -- appears to help women reduce their risk of stroke, according to new research.
The new Swedish study echoes previous research in men and women. It also adds new information.
"The protection started at more than 45 grams [about 1.5 ounces] a week," says researcher Susanna C. Larsson, PhD, of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.
The group eating the most chocolate got the most benefit, reducing stroke intake by 20%. In this group, the median intake (half ate more, half less) was about 2.3 ounces a week.
The research is published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
While other studies have found a link between eating chocolate and reduced stroke risk, this research found a slight difference in protection, depending on type of stroke. Those who ate the most chocolate were protected a bit more from strokes caused by hemorrhage than strokes caused by obstruction such as blood clots. Larsson isn't sure why.
The Sweet History of Chocolate
Health Benefits of Chocolate
Larsson followed 33,372 women, ages 49 to 83, for 10 years, until late 2008. They were enrolled in the Swedish Mammography Cohort. They answered questions about how often they had eaten chocolate and 95 other foods during the year before.
Larsson separated them into eight categories, depending on the amount of chocolate eaten. The groups ranged from "never" to "3 or more times a day."
During the follow-up, 1,549 strokes occurred. Of the total, 1,200 were caused by clots or other disturbances in the blood vessels. Another 224 were caused by burst vessels. The causes of the other 125 were not specified.
Even after adjusting for factors linked with stroke, Larsson found the chocolate was protective.
The protective benefits of chocolate are due, she says, to the flavonoids in the cocoa. They have antioxidant properties. They protect the body from damage by substances called free radicals. These can harm the cardiovascular system.
The study was supported by the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research, the Swedish Research Council/Committee for Infrastructure, and a grant from the Karolinska Institutet.
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