Ep ide m iolo g i c al e v iden c e a b o u t
h ealt h effe c ts of ch o c olate
Epidemiological evidence about beneficial effects of
chocolate came from the Kuna Indian population of the
islands of Panama. This population is characterised by
a low prevalence of atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and
hypertension. The ‘secret’ behind this is the daily intake
of homemade cocoa drink by indigenous Kuna Indians.
These traits disappear after migration to urban areas on
mainland Panama and subsequent changes in diet (i.e.
consumption of much less cocoa, which is commercially
processed), hence negating the genetic nature of the
traits.21
Further epidemiological evidence has come from
a longitudinal study looking at the lifestyle and
cardiovascular risk in a cohort of older men.22 This study
found cocoa intake to be inversely related to blood pressure.
Even after multivariate adjustment, mean systolic blood
pressure was 3.8 mmHg lower in the highest cocoa
intake group compared with the lowest intake group. In