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Thumbs down to benefits of chocolate, red wine
Wednesday August 29, 2012 08:24:06 PM,
IANS
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London: There is no
proof to show that chocolate and red wine protect the heart, even
though a study has suggested that they lower cardiac risk by 37
percent, say scientists.
This was only a 'sign', however, and not proof because of the
flawed nature of the study, said Steffen Desch from the University
of Leipzig Heart Centre in Germany.
He said a more conclusive trial could be difficult because the
real thing would have to be tested against a 'dummy' substance
that looked and tasted like chocolate.
Some small studies have claimed that chocolate lowers blood
pressure and reduces inflammation in the body.
But Desch is unconvinced, the Daily Mail reports.
"Despite the studies, I couldn't yet recommend dark chocolate as a
prevention or treatment in cardiovascular disease," he said.
"There's no strong evidence of a benefit and no clear explanation
of an effective mechanism."
The calories contained in chocolate are likely to offset any
protection to the heart, he said.
His reservations came as Dutch researchers dampened down
speculation about the benefits of red wine on the heart. Any
benefit from moderate consumption of red wine is likely to be
small and outweighed by the adverse effects of drinking too much,
scientists say.
Even though it is also supposed to help heart health, there is no
single ingredient which appears to work, they said.
They have tested resveratrol, which is found in the skin of red
grapes touted as having a range of life-enhancing properties.
Eric Sijbrands of Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam
led a series of studies which failed to replicate the findings of
heart benefits from taking resveratrol.
Using it in capsules for four weeks did not lower blood pressure
in patients with hypertension, he said.
"Certainly, I would never actively prescribe red wine for a heart
condition and, even if I was asked about it, I would be cautious,"
he added.
If red wine does work, the explanation is likely to be 'complex',
he said.
Any benefit from moderate consumption is likely to be small and
outweighed by the adverse effects of drinking too much.
These findings were presented at the European Congress of
Cardiology in Munich.
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