Can flavonoid-rich chocolate modulate arterial elasticity and pathological uterine artery Doppler blood flow in pregnant women? A pilot study

Abstract

Introduction: Dark chocolate has shown beneficial effects on cardiovascular health and might also modulate hypertensive complications in pregnancy and uteroplacental blood flow. Increased uteroplacental resistance is associated with systemic arterial stiffness. We aimed to investigate the short-term effect of flavonoid-rich chocolate on arterial stiffness and Doppler blood flow velocimetry indexes in pregnant women with compromised uteroplacental blood flow.

Methods: Doppler blood flow velocimetry and digital pulse wave analysis (DPA) were performed in 25 women pregnant in the second and third trimesters with uterine artery (UtA) score (UAS) 3–4, before and after 3 days of ingestion of chocolate with high flavonoid and antioxidant contents. UtA pulsatility index (PI), UtA diastolic notching, UAS (semiquantitative measure of PI and notching combined), and umbilical artery PI were calculated, and DPA variables representing central and peripheral maternal arteries were recorded.

Results: Mean UtA PI (p = .049) and UAS (p = .025) significantly decreased after chocolate consumption. There were no significant changes in UtA diastolic notching or any DPA indexes of arterial stiffness/vascular tone.

Conclusion: Chocolate may have beneficial effects on the uteroplacental circulation, but in this pilot study, we could not demonstrate effects on arterial vascular tone as assessed by DPA.

Keywords:

• Arterial stiffness
• cacao
• digital pulse wave analysis
• pregnancy
• uterine artery blood flow velocimetry

Acknowledgements

Biomedical analysts Pia Aprea, Maria Nilsson, and Pia Soikkeli are gratefully acknowledged for expert technical assistance. Dr. Liz Medina is acknowledged for practical contribution.

Disclosure statement

The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by grants from Region Skåne and the Medical Faculty (ALF), Lund University, Sweden.