Latest Chocolate Study: Slightly Bitter

You've undoubtedly heard that chocolate appears to have health benefits. Each time one of these studies appears the news articles are topped with some variation of this: "Finally, some sweet news for chocolate lovers. . . ." [Today's lede of the HealthDay story: "Chocolate lovers can rejoice again: More research has found that the antioxidants in dark chocolate can help slightly lower blood pressure." ]

AP also writes up the lastest study in this continuing series, which appears in this week's JAMA. It deserves a careful tasting.

Bottom line first

Eating small amounts of dark chocolate may lower blood pressure for people with borderline-to-moderate hypertension. Key words: "small amounts" and "may"

This study in 50 words or less

German researchers gave subjects 30g of Ritter Sport dark chocolate (approx. 1.5 Hershey's kisses) daily, or the same dose of white chocolate. After two weeks the dark group averaged about a three-point drop in blood pressure; the others didn't.

Yes, but. . .

The study was small (44 people) and brief (18 weeks). The effect during the study period was small. To invite a responsible inference, the study must be replicated with more people for a longer time. None of the people in the study had the usual cluster of linked to being overweight, coronary heart disease, smoking, etc.

So what are you going to do about it?

Gorge on chocolate daily to improve your cardiovascular health.

Joking, of course.

Previous studies have found a possible link between kinds of phenols, antioxidants found in cocoa and red wine, with improved cardiovascular health. This study suggests that the amount needed to get a benefit is really small--one square of dark chocolate per day, or 30 calories' worth.

The health risks associated with chocolate derive from the high-sugar,high-fat, high-calorie funbombs that they are delivered in.

Previous researchers, and those associated with this study, have suggested that small amounts of dark chocolate, added to a heart-healthy diet (such as the DASH diet designed to control high blood pressure) is okay, and -- who knows? -- could have a small benefit.

Nobody has said eating a daily Hershey bar, especially a milk (not dark) chocolate type, is a good idea. Achieving caloric balance, getting regular exercise and controlling salt in your diet will have a much more profound effect in high blood pressure than red wine, chocolate or any other foods purported to deliver health benefits.

Here's a good two-feet-on-the-ground reality check from last year by the folks at Harvard.