Electronic Letters to:
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eLetters: Electronic letters published:
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Dark chocolate and cardiovascular health
- Nir Barak, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel (3 January 2006)
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Nir Barak, MD Medicine D, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Journal, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
Send letter to journal:
nirbarak{at}post.tau.ac.il Nir Barak, et al.
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Dear Editor, I read with great interest the letter by Hermann et al.[1] regarding dark chocolate and endothelial dysfunction. The authors conclude "a small daily treat of dark chocolate may substantially increase the amount of antioxidant intake and beneficially effect vascular health". Unfortunately, not many people are aware of the possible toxic effects of dark chocolate: apart from its content of flavanoids, it contains substantial amounts Theobromine. Theobromine is a Xantine Alkaloid with an action similar to caffeine on the CNS and cardiac muscle. Ingestion of 1000 mg or more of Theobromine (222 gr of dark chocolate) may cause excitement, extrasystoles, headaches, insomnia, mils delirium, muscle tremor, nausea, restlessness and tachycardia.[2] Therefore, patients with arrhythmias or significant cardiovascular disease should limit their dark chocolate intake, in order to reduce the risk of Xantine induced arrhythmias. References 1. Hermann E et al. Dark Chocolate improves endothelial and platelet function. Heart 2006:92:119-120. 2. Chocolate in Professional’s handbook of complementary and alternative medicine 3rd edition. Fetrow CW, Avila JR (eds), Lippincott Williams and Willkins, Springhouse, PA, USA, 2004. |
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