Chocolate could reduce the risk of common heart arrhythmia

A recent study concluded that dark chocolate may reduce the risk of developing common heart arrhythmia, also known as atrial fibrillation.

The study concluded that women need only 1 weekly serving of dark chocolate, while men need 2 to 6 weekly dark chocolate servings in order to observe benefits and reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation.

During the research, scientists analyzed 55,502 patients (26,400 men and 29,100 women) between the ages of 50 and 64 and followed the patients for 13 and a half years, with the study participants providing information on their weekly chocolate consumption (for reference purposes, one serving was thought as the equivalent of 30 grams or one ounce).

3,346 new cases of atrial fibrillation were recorded during the study follow-up period, with participants that consumed 1-3 servings of chocolate per week being 10% fewer than those who did not eat any chocolate. In terms of gender, the incidence of atrial fibrillation was lower among women compared with men regardless of intake.

Nevertheless, the study was limited by the fact that it is an observational study, so that any cause and effect relationship on consumption and outcomes cannot be stated.

“Despite the fact that most of the chocolate consumed in our sample probably contained relatively low concentrations of the potentially protective ingredients, we still observed a robust statistically significant association,” the authors explained.

“They are largely not designed [to answer] this question – and people generally stumble on the findings – and show only part of the results (why not show the relationship with all the outcomes at once),” said Harlan Krumholz, M.D., Professor of Cardiology at Yale University, regarding the information available on chocolate benefits.

“But if you like chocolate and need an excuse, then suspend your disbelief, pretend the study does not have all sorts of caveats, look past the numerous limitations – and just go for it. But if you are doing it just because you want to improve your cardiovascular health, then you are better off saving the calories and going for a walk,” Krumholz added.

“Regardless of the limitations of the Danish chocolate study, the findings are interesting and warrant further consideration, especially given the importance of identifying effective prevention strategies for atrial fibrillation,” the authors wrote.

Atrial fibrillation affects 33 million people worldwide and increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and dementia. Moreover, arrhythmia poses the risk of forming blood clots, therefore the patients need anticoagulants to thin their blood.