Consuming 40g of polyphenol-rich cocoa powder was associated with a significant reduction in the activation of a protein called NF-kappaB, which is known to play a key role in some inflammatory pathways.
Researchers in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, explained: “NF-kappaB is a transcriptional modulator of genes involved in in?ammation and has a crucial role in atherosclerosis and other in?ammatory diseases. Nowadays, it is considered a major therapeutic target.”
The new study attempts to understand the mechanism behind the potential benefits and ascertain if there is the biological plausibility to support the reported health benefits.
Led by Emilio Sacanella, the researchers recruited 18 healthy volunteers aged between 19-49 years and randomly assigned them to one of three groups. After three weeks of intervention, the researchers report that NF-kappaB levels decreased significantly in the cocoa powder in water group, but not in the cocoa-milk group. Levels increased in the milk group, they added.
Source: Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases
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