during the manufacture of chocolate, many flavanoids are destroyed, while sugar and fats are added
to make the chocolate taste better.
Scientists want to learn the benefits of flavanols before they are changed in the manufacturing
process. They have announced plans for a four-year-long study of 18,000 adults. The subjects will
take small amounts of pure cacao flavanols. The study is believed to be the largest of its kind.
Jo-Ann Manson works at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the lead
researcher in the study.
“This capsule of cocoa flavanols will avoid having the calories and the sugar and the saturated fat
found in chocolate.”
And the flavanols will not have any taste.
The subjects in the new study are to be separated into two groups. Members of one group will take
pills containing flavanols. The other group will take “placebo” pills -- substances that do not have
anything in them, other than, perhaps, sugar.
Whatever the result of the study, chocolatier Steve Koumanelis is not worried about his business.
“People like the experience of actually biting into a piece of chocolate, whatever their favorites are.”
The flavanol benefits test is just starting. For now, people will have to get their flavanols the tasty way
-- by eating dark chocolate!
This Science in the News was written by Dana Demange and Christopher Cruise, who also
produced the program.
I’m Anna Matteo.
And I’m Christopher Cruise.
Join us again next week for more news about science on the Voice of America.