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Modulation of blood pressure-lowering effects of dark chocolate according to an insulin sensitivity-randomized crossover study

Hypertension Research volume 43, pages 575–578 (2020)Cite this article

Dark chocolate (DC) may lower blood pressure (BP) by improving vascular function and insulin sensitivity (IS) [1]. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Recently, home blood pressure (HBP) telemonitoring has been regarded as a sensitive and reliable method of evaluating hypertension [2], and day-to-day variability in HBP associated with vascular dysfunction has been reported as a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) [3,4,5].

However, no previous study has comprehensively evaluated the effects of DC on HBP telemonitoring/HBP variability, vascular function, and IS. In addition, few studies have reported the effects of DC on BP among East Asian people, even though ethnic differences in glucose/insulin regulation have been suggested [6].

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to the participants in this study for their outstanding commitments and cooperation. We also wish to thank the entire staff involved in this study, especially Ms. Tomoko Saisu and Ms. Ryouko Asanuma for their contribution to this study as laboratory technicians.

Funding

This study was supported by research funding from Morinaga & Co., Ltd., Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan

    Chisa Matsumoto, Hirofumi Tomiyama, Kazutaka Kimura, Kazuki Shiina, Taishirou Chikamori & Akira Yamshina

  2. Morinaga & Co., Ltd., R&D Institute, Kanagawa, Japan

    Masanori Kamei & Hiroyuki Inagaki

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  1. Chisa Matsumoto
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  2. Hirofumi Tomiyama
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  3. Kazutaka Kimura
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  4. Kazuki Shiina
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  7. Taishirou Chikamori
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  8. Akira Yamshina
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Contributions

Study design and conception: CM, HT, and KS. Statistical analyses: CM and HT. Drafting the manuscript: CM and HT. Manuscript review for scientific content: CM, KK, KS, MK, HI, AY, TC, and HT. Supervision: HT.

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Correspondence to Hirofumi Tomiyama.

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Conflict of interest

CM obtained a research grant for this study from Morinaga & Co. Ltd., Japan. HI and MK serve as members of Morinaga & Co., Ltd.

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Matsumoto, C., Tomiyama, H., Kimura, K. et al. Modulation of blood pressure-lowering effects of dark chocolate according to an insulin sensitivity-randomized crossover study. Hypertens Res 43, 575–578 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-020-0395-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-020-0395-3

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