Beneficial effects of a flavanol-enriched cacao beverage on anthropometric and cardiometabolic risk profile in overweight subjects

Levy Munguía, Gabriela Gutiérrez-Salmeán, Marcela Hernández, Alicia Ortiz, María E. Sánchez, Nayelli Nájera, Eduardo Meaney, Ivan Rubio-Gayosso, Guillermo Ceballos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are associated with systemic inflammation and oxidative stress which, in turn, enhance the development of cardiometabolic disruptions. Lifestyle changes and pharmacologic approaches show moderately effective results regarding overall health improvements. Evidence suggests that cacao flavonoids are associated with a reduced cardiometabolic risk, due to the modulation of molecular pathways subjacent to glucose and lipids metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of cacao flavonoids supplementation on anthropometric and cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight subjects. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot clinical trial was conducted in overweight subjects with borderline criteria of metabolic syndrome. Participants were randomly assigned to either, supplement of cacao flavonoids (80 mg) or placebo, daily, for 4 weeks. Cardiometabolic variables were blood pressure, glycemia and lipid profile. Serum markers of oxidative damage (free protein carbonyls and malondialdehyde) were also analyzed. Anthropometric measurements included body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and fat and fat-free mass. We found significant reductions in body weight (p = 0.04), waist circumference (p = 0.03), triacylglycerols (p < 0.01), TG/HDL ratio (p = 0.01), MDA (p = 0.02) and protein carbonyls (p = 0.01) in the flavonoid-supplemented group. Results from this study show that cacao flavonoids can effectively modulate anthropometric and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)78-86
Number of pages9
JournalRevista Mexicana de Cardiologia
Volume26
Issue number2
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2015

Keywords

  • Anthropometric
  • Cacao
  • Cardiometabolic
  • Glycemia
  • Overweight
  • Quality of life
  • Triglyceridemia

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