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

von Wowern, Emma LU and Olofsson, Per LU (2017) In Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine p.1-6
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... (More)

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.

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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Arterial stiffness, cacao, digital pulse wave analysis, pregnancy, uterine artery blood flow velocimetry
in
Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine
pages
6 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85021652763
  • pmid:28612673
ISSN
1476-7058
DOI
10.1080/14767058.2017.1341483
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
85aa64fc-0df4-4271-959d-3f91736a10e1
date added to LUP
2017-08-10 11:32:06
date last changed
2024-01-14 02:07:19
@article{85aa64fc-0df4-4271-959d-3f91736a10e1,
  abstract     = {{<p>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.</p>}},
  author       = {{von Wowern, Emma and Olofsson, Per}},
  issn         = {{1476-7058}},
  keywords     = {{Arterial stiffness; cacao; digital pulse wave analysis; pregnancy; uterine artery blood flow velocimetry}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  pages        = {{1--6}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine}},
  title        = {{Can flavonoid-rich chocolate modulate arterial elasticity and pathological uterine artery Doppler blood flow in pregnant women? A pilot study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2017.1341483}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/14767058.2017.1341483}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}