Key result
Chocolate provides polyphenol-mediated cardioprotection, but excess intake is linked to tachyarrhythmias and atrial fibrillation.
Why the study?
The dual cardioprotective and adverse effects of chocolate and its constituents on cardiovascular health require comprehensive description.
While chocolate provides cardiovascular benefits through antioxidants, its overconsumption poses arrhythmic risks due to caffeine.
The antioxidants such as polyphenols, especially flavonols, present in large quantitites in cocoa, cause vasodilation, modulate inflammatory markers and cardiovascular health, and possess a range of protective cardiovascular effects. On the other hand, overconsumption of chocolate can lead to tachyarrhythmias, supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation due to its caffeine content. This review describes both the cardioprotective and adverse effects of chocolate and its constituents.
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Maria Alessandra Gammone (2017) conducted a review in Cardiovascular health. Chocolate was evaluated. Chocolate consumption offers cardioprotective effects through polyphenols but can lead to tachyarrhythmias and atrial fibrillation upon overconsumption due to its caffeine content.
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