Here are some references to scientific research papers on not just Anti-Oxidant benefits but recent studies done on cardioid vascular health as well. The JAMA. 2007 Jul publication is significant and should be read as well as The June 3, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. They published the results of a first-of-its kind study which showed that consuming cocoa flavanols improved vascular function in patients being treated for type 2 diabetes.
I got the references below from footnotes in an article from the Life Extension Foundation web site here:
tinyurl.com/5ta6v5. LEF have a number of articles about the health benefits of cocoa all backed up by good science, with extensive footnotes. You can find the articles from the search box on the
www.lef.org site. Just put in the keyword cocoa.
4. Weisburger JH. Chemopreventive effects of cocoa polyphenols on chronic diseases. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2001 Nov;226(10):891-7.
5. Grassi D, Lippi C, Necozione S, Desideri G, Ferri C. Short-term administration of dark chocolate is followed by a significant increase in insulin sensitivity and a decrease in blood pressure in healthy persons. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Mar;81(3):611-4.
6. Grassi D, Necozione S, Lippi C, et al. Cocoa reduces blood pressure and insulin resistance and improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypertensives. Hypertension. 2005 Aug;46(2):398-405.
7. Tomaru M, Takano H, Osakabe N, et al. Dietary supplementation with cacao liquor proanthocyanidins prevents elevation of blood glucose levels in diabetic obese mice. Nutrition. 2007 Apr;23(4):351-5.
8. Taubert D, Roesen R, Lehmann C, Jung N, Schomig E. Effects of low habitual cocoa intake on blood pressure and bioactive nitric oxide: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2007 Jul 4;298(1):49-60.
10. Wang JF, Schramm DD, Holt RR, et al. A dose-response effect from chocolate consumption on plasma epicatechin and oxidative damage. J Nutr. 2000 Aug;130(8S Suppl):2115S-9S.
11. Baba S, Natsume M, Yasuda A, et al. Plasma LDL and HDL cholesterol and oxidized LDL concentrations are altered in normo- and hypercholesterolemic humans after intake of different levels of cocoa powder. J Nutr. 2007 Jun;137(6):1436-41.
12. Mursu J, Voutilainen S, Nurmi T, et al. Dark chocolate consumption increases HDL cholesterol concentration and chocolate fatty acids may inhibit lipid peroxidation in healthy humans. Free Radic Biol Med. 2004 Nov 1;37(9):1351-9.
13. Shaul PW. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase, caveolae and the development of atherosclerosis. J Physiol. 2003 Feb 15;547(Pt 1):21-33.
14. Shaw CA, Taylor EL, Megson IL, Rossi AG. Nitric oxide and the resolution of inflammation: implications for atherosclerosis. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2005 Mar;100 Suppl 1:67-71.
15. Takimoto E, Champion HC, Li M, et al. Oxidant stress from nitric oxide synthase-3 uncoupling stimulates cardiac pathologic remodeling from chronic pressure load. J Clin Invest. 2005 May;115(5):1221-31.
16. Rubio AR, Morales-Segura MA. Nitric oxide, an iceberg in cardiovascular physiology: far beyond vessel tone control. Arch Med Res. 2004 Jan;35(1):1-11.
17. Sugawara J, Komine H, Hayashi K, et al. Effect of systemic nitric oxide synthase inhibition on arterial stiffness in humans. Hypertens Res. 2007 May;30(5):411-5.
18. Taddei S, Virdis A, Ghiadoni L, et al. Age-related reduction of NO availability and oxidative stress in humans. Hypertension. 2001 Aug;38(2):274-9.
19. Heiss C, Kleinbongard P, Dejam A, et al. Acute consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa and the reversal of endothelial dysfunction in smokers. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005 Oct 4;46(7):1276-83.
20. Heiss C, Dejam A, Kleinbongard P, et al. Vascular effects of cocoa rich in flavan-3-ols. JAMA. 2003 Aug 27;290(8):1030-1.
21. Sies H, Schewe T, Heiss C, Kelm M. Cocoa polyphenols and inflammatory mediators. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Jan;81(1 Suppl):304S-12S.