Risk Reduction for Cardiometabolic Disorders

From Chocolate consumption and cardiometabolic disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis BMJ 2011; 343 :d4488 doi:10.1136/bmj.d4488. By UK and Colombian researchers: Adriana Buitrago-Lopez, Jean Sanderson, Laura Johnson, Samantha Warnakula, Angela Wood, Emanuele Di Angelantonio, Oscar H Franco.

Study selection: Randomised trials and cohort, case-control, and cross sectional studies carried out in human adults, in which the association between chocolate consumption and the risk of outcomes related to cardiometabolic disorders were reported.

The highest levels of chocolate consumption (compared with lowest levels) were associated with:

• a 37% reduction in cardiovascular disease
• a 29% reduction in stroke
• "Five of the seven studies reported a beneficial association between higher levels of chocolate consumption and the risk of cardiometabolic disorders."
• "Chocolate consumption seems to be associated with a substantial reduction in the risk of cardiometabolic disorders." 

Equivalent Serving Size: unspecified based on heterogeneity of study definitions. Chocolate consumption was self-reported. Low chocolate consumption ranges from None to <1 per week or 1.7g per day. High Chocolate Consumption ranges from once a week to >5 times per week.