Arteriosclerosis Circulatory System Atherosclerosis
Conditions
Interventions
Initial wash-out period (15 days) followed by first intervention (28 days) and second intervention (28 days).
Intervention 1: 40 g/day of soluble cocoa powder dissolved in 250 mL of skim milk
Inter
Sponsors
Ministry of Science and Innovation (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) (Spain)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Males and females between 55 and 80 years old 2. Those without documented cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease) 3. Those who have diabetes mellitus or two or more of the following factors: 3.1. Current smoking 3.2. Hypertension 3.3. Hypercholesterolemia (low-density Lipoprotein [LDL]-cholesterol >160 mg/dl) 3.4. High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol 30 kg/m^2) 3.6. Family history of premature coronary heart disease 4. Participant should give signed informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Subjects with a previous history of cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, stroke or peripheral vascular disease) 2. Any severe chronic disease 3. History of allergic reactions to any cocoa or milk components
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Leukocyte adhesion molecule expression Lymphocyte and monocyte adhesion molecules on these cells will be marked with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) conjugated with fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC) and phycoerythrin (PE) by direct double immunofluorescence. The MAb of the adhesion molecules used will be: anti-CD11a (LFA-1), anti-CD40L, anti-CD11b (Mac-1) (Bender MedSystems Diagnostics, Austria), anti-Syalil Lewis (anti-CD15s) (Pharmingen, USA), anti-CD49d (VLA-4) (Cytogmos, Spain). The monoclonal antibodies used to mark the T-lymphocytes will be anti-CD2 and monocytes, anti-CD14 (Caltag Laboratories, USA). 2. Soluble adhesion molecules The following serum soluble adhesion molecules will be determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits: C-reactive protein (CRP), sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, sE-selectin, and sP-selectin, as well as sMCP-1, and IL-6 (Immunotech, Czech Republic). 3. Nuclear factor kppa B by western blot of peripheral blood mononuclear cells 4. Bioavailability of soluble phenolic compounds of cocoa powder by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of plasma and urine metabolites All outcomes will be measured at baseline and after each intervention period. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Medical record A complete medical record will be obtained from all participants, which included data on cocoa intake, smoking and dietary habits. Blood pressure and heart rate will be measured with an electronic apparatus Omron HEM-705CP (Netherlands). 2. Nutrition assessment and general analyses All participants will complete a validated nutritional questionnaire at baseline to determine the total quantity of calories ingested in the previous month as well as the proportion corresponding to carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. Overall nutrition will be determined by percentage of ideal weight, lean body mass and body mass index. Waist perimeter will be measured. The proteic nutrition will be determined on the basis of the following parameters: haemoglobin, total lymphocyte count, total proteins, albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and retinol-binding protein. Serum and intraerythrocytary folic acid concentrations will be measured, as well as serum vitamin A, B1, B12, C, E, B-carotenes, Zn, Mg and Se concentrations. Moreover, the following measurements will also be obtained: red blood cell count, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, leukocyte count, glucose, creatinine, electrolytes, uric acid, transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, gammaglutamyl transpeptidase and bilirrubin. 3. Coagulation tests The following parameters will also be determined: platelet count, prothrombin time, and plasma fibrinogen. 4. Serum lipoproteins and others Total cholesterol, triglycerides, cHDL, cLDL, Apo A1, Apo B, lipoprotein (a) and homocysteine will be determined. 5. Diet and exercise monitoring All participants will follow an isocaloric diet prepared according to their personal preferences. Subjects will be asked to exclude all other cocoa-containing foods throughout the study and to limit the intake of foods containing high polyphenol content, such as virgin olive oil, red wine, tea, fruits, and vegetables. The diet will be strictly monitored during th | — |
Countries
Spain
Outcome results
None listed