Is chocolate good for the heart?

Previous studies have shown that chocolate can reduce blood presure, a strong risk factor for heart failure. Harvard reserachers carried out a large prospective cohort study, including more than 39,000 Swedish women, investigating if chocolate intake is linked to the risk of heart failure.


The data were obtained from a questionnaire on health and lifestyle including details about diet and chocolate intake. After 9 years follow up, the researchers found that women who ate 1 - 2 servings a week or 1 -3 servings a month had lower risk of hear failure than those who ate 3 or more servings a week. They suggest that flavenoids in chocolate may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factor.


Critics said that the study relied on participants self-reporting of their chocolate intake, it is also unclear how much chocolate was consumed in one "serving". Although this was a large study, it is felt that the evidence was not strong enough to tell if chocolate reduces the risk of heart failure. Furthermore, flavenoids in chocolate can be found in fruit and vegetables.


Source: Mostofsky E, Levitan EB, Wolk A, et al. Chocolate Intake and Incidence of Heart Failure: A Population-Based, Prospective Study of Middle-Aged and Elderly Women. Circulation: Heart failure 2010; Published online before print August 16 ( f/t via Athens)

Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure

Hawthorn has been used for centuries as a treatment for heart problems. A new Cochrane review shows that a few months of treatment with the Hawthorn extract, along with the patient's conventional treatments for chronic heart failure, is beneficial, and that the side effects are generally tolerable.

Researchers found 14 double-blind, placebo controlled randomised clinical trials (RCTs) including about a thousand patients. Those trials that could be included in a meta-analysis showed improvements in heart failure symptoms and in the function of the heart.

Source: "Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure" Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008 Issue 1

A bowl of whole-grain breakfast cereal every day can cut the risk of heart failure

A new study comparing cereal intake and the risk of heart failure among more than 21,000 doctors who took part in the Physicians Health Study I found that men who ate whole-grain breakfast cereal regularly were less likely to develop heart failure than those who ate it rarely. The risks of heart failure were highest among those who never ate the cereal.


The researchers concluded that their data "demonstrate that a higher intake of whole grain breakfast cereals is associated with a lower risk of heart failure." The protective effect of whole-grain cereal against heart failure may be due to the beneficial effects of whole grains on heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, heart attack risk, diabetes and obesity.

Source: "Breakfast Cereals and Risk of Heart Failure in the Physicians' Health Study I" Archives of Internal Medicine, Oct 2007; 167: 2080 - 2085 (Subscription required)

Diabetes drugs double heart failure risk

More than 1.5 million prescriptions for rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) were issued in England alone last year, but experts warn these 2 commonly used diabetes drugs could double the risk of heart failure, even for those who have never suffered the condition, in a new study in the journal Diabetes Care.

The two drugs are prescribed to millions of patients to treat type 2 diabetes and approved by NICE for use on the NHS. Experts call for a re-evaluation of the benefits and risks of both drugs in view of the concerns on cardiovascular safety.

Drug agencies urge patients not to panic over research findings and should contact their doctors if concerned. Read more ...

Avandia - an interim analysis

Following the concerns raised about the drug Avandia's heart risk, NEJM has published a report online on 5 June 2007 "Rosiglitazone evaluated for cardiovascular outcomes - an interim analysis " with new data that come from the RECORD trial, sponsored by the drugmaker Glaxo, designed to assess the drug's effect on the heart.

The authors concluded that the interim findings from this study were inclusive, "Rosiglitazone was associated with an increased risk of heart failure", but "the data were insufficient to determine whether the drug was associated with an increase in the risk of myocardial infarction."