According to a new study, cocoa improves the ability to walk in people with arterial problems. And this, because it is rich in antioxidants.
Do you suffer from arterial disorders and are you a cocoa lover? This may be good news! Indeed, a new study published in the journal Traffic Research (belonging to the American Heart Association) reveals that cocoa consumption improves walking performance, especially in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We speak of peripheral arterial disease when an artery is partially or totally blocked due to an accumulation of lipids in the wall of the arterial vessels located on the periphery of the aorta. Very often, it is the legs that are affected. The blood circulates less, the oxygen supply decreases. It becomes difficult to perform certain physical activities.
Better physical performance
To carry out the present study, the researchers recruited 44 patients over the age of 60 with peripheral arterial disease. One group of participants drank a cocoa drink rich in flavanols (antioxidants) three times a day for six months. The other group drank a placebo drink at the same frequency. Result: those who ingested cocoa managed to walk up to 42.6 meters further than the placebo group during a 6-minute walk test. Additionally, the researchers found improved blood flow to the calves, and better muscle function. Note that the richest cocoa in antioxidants is present in the raw cocoa bean or in dark chocolate with a cocoa content greater than 85%.
The role of mitochondria
The scientific team believes that flavonols act directly at the level of mitochondrial health, that is to say when food is transformed into energy. “In addition to reduced blood flow to the legs, people with peripheral arterial disease have been shown to have damaged mitochondria in their calf muscles, possibly due to reduced blood flow.. (…) Previous research has shown that better mitochondrial health and activity are associated with better walking performance. Also, improving the health of damaged mitochondria could lead to improvements in walking.”, explains Mary McDermott, lead author of the study and professor of medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University (Chicago, USA). Further, more in-depth studies need to be conducted to confirm these results. If they are positive, cocoa could become a real therapeutic avenue for people with PAD.
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