Chocolate is cost-effective in preventing cardiovascular disease. Yay or Nay?
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BMJ
Chocolate is cost-effective in preventing cardiovascular disease. Yay or Nay?
Discuss what's in the BMJ and on bmj.com
The consuption of various food substances such as red wine and dark chocolate have been in the news on several occasions over the last couple of years about whether their consumption can help to redu
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Chocolate is cost-effective in preventing cardiovascular disease. Yay or Nay?
posted at 3/6/2012 5:53 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 324
First: 23/12/2011 Last: 3/5/2013 |
The consuption of various food substances such as red wine and dark chocolate have been in the news on several occasions over the last couple of years about whether their consumption can help to reduce the risk of various things such as cancer or heart disease. The BMJ published a new research article looking at darkj chocolate but this time also looking at what teh cost-effectiveness barrier would be to following such health advice. It can be found here: |
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Re: The effectiveness and cost effectiveness of dark chocolate consumption as prevention therapy in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease
posted at 9/6/2012 11:05 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2947
First: 10/3/2009 Last: 29/4/2013 |
Another Australian study. We make nice chocolate and better than US chocolate but not as fine as Swiss. However, for years I start my day with local organic coffee freshly ground and Australian organic dark chocolate. This enables me to do away with the usual breakfast eaten by Scots (eg oat gruel, Mars Bar buttie, battered to death fish and chips and some more oatmeal horse biscuits with moss jam) which may be two slices of cold Tasmanian smoked salmon with capers. I have lost considerable weight on this regimen and share my enthusiasm for my chocolate breakfast with patients. Fencing, gym (also gymn as it is Greek) and sailing supplement my aim to be lithe in my old age provided I live to old age and don't drown or die in a duel.
As doctors it is good to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. |
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Re: The effectiveness and cost effectiveness of dark chocolate consumption as prevention therapy in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease
posted at 9/6/2012 11:27 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 3045
First: 27/3/2012 Last: 20/5/2013 |
The study appears to be an important one for prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The blood pressure and cholesterol lowering effects of dark chocolate consumption are beneficial in the prevention of cardiovascular events in a population with 'metabolic syndrome'. Daily dark chocolate consumption could be an effective cardiovascular preventive strategy, considering the fact that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Dark chocolate, derived from cocoa beans, is another food rich in polyphenols, specifically flavonoids. Flavonoids exhibit antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and metabolic effects, all of which may contribute to their protective effect. |
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Re: The effectiveness and cost effectiveness of dark chocolate consumption as prevention therapy in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease
posted at 10/6/2012 10:27 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2947
First: 10/3/2009 Last: 29/4/2013 |
My maxim is; Some polyphenols each day keeps the doctor at play, Nay, methylxanthines each morning keeps the doctor from yawning.
The nectar of the Olympian gods was black coffee and their abrosia, dark chocolate. As they had knowledge of the whole cosmos, they knew both before us mortals. |
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Re: The effectiveness and cost effectiveness of dark chocolate consumption as prevention therapy in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease
posted at 11/6/2012 4:53 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 624
First: 13/4/2011 Last: 15/5/2013 |
Hello Fellows: "With 100% compliance, dark chocolate consumption could potentially prevent 70 non-fatal (interquartile range 55-85) and 15 fatal (5-20) cardiovascular events per 10 000 population treated over 10 years". As a clinician, I was not that impressed at all. All Best, Joey |
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Re: The effectiveness and cost effectiveness of dark chocolate consumption as prevention therapy in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease
posted at 11/6/2012 9:03 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 324
First: 23/12/2011 Last: 3/5/2013 |
In Response to Re: The effectiveness and cost effectiveness of dark chocolate consumption as prevention therapy in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease: Hello Fellows: This was the best scenario found with daily dark chocolate consumption for 10 consecutive years (which is artificial in real life): "With 100% compliance, dark chocolate consumption could potentially prevent 70 non-fatal (interquartile range 55-85) and 15 fatal (5-20) cardiovascular events per 10 000 population treated over 10 years". As a clinician, I was not that impressed at all. All Best, Joey Posted by Joey Rio Thank you. I thought I was the only skeptic to this study!! :) |
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Re: Chocolate is cost-effective in preventing cardiovascular disease. Yay or Nay?
posted at 11/6/2012 5:26 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 875
First: 17/6/2011 Last: 20/5/2013 |
I would say it is not that effective and most people will eat more than the recommended amounts negating any beneficial effect. The people who try the regime will probably think it is quite palatable however - unless you are a milk chocolate fan of course (and I can already hear philistine!) sadian |
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Re: Chocolate is cost-effective in preventing cardiovascular disease. Yay or Nay?
posted at 11/6/2012 8:31 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1784
First: 7/3/2009 Last: 18/5/2013 |
The supposed effect is attributed to antioxidants in dark chocolate. While fine dark chocolate might be beneficial, there is another side to the coin and that is the high caloric content and the carbohydrate content. While dark chocolate in modest amount might be harmless for the heart and may even have a mild protective effect it is not the meal of choice, and I would not bet my money on it as a preventive measure. |
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Re: Chocolate is cost-effective in preventing cardiovascular disease. Yay or Nay?
posted at 12/6/2012 5:35 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 12
First: 4/2/2010 Last: 12/6/2012 |
The chocolate subject came about because a group of Pacific Islanders were found with unusually healthy hearts. Investigation showed they consumed about 6 cups of chocolate a day. This resulted in the study, probably with a grant, that proved dark choclate benefits the heart. I have heard no mention of what else constituted this "chocolate" that was tested or whether it contained milk, sucrose, glucose, fructose. etc. |
