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May 16, 2008|Volume 36, Number 29|Four-Week Issue


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Findings suggest eating chocolate
may be boon to pregnant women

Women who eat chocolate are at a decreased risk of developing preeclampsia, a potentially dangerous complication of pregnancy, a Yale study suggests.

The conclusions are reported in the current issue of the journal Epidemiology.

A team headed by Elizabeth Triche of the Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology wanted to see if chocolate, particularly dark chocolate which had been previously linked to improved cardiovascular health, might also offer protection to pregnant mothers against preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a disorder characterized by dangerously high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Pregnant women who suffer from the condition sometimes complain of swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and vision problems.

The study looked at self-reported chocolate consumption and also at levels of a byproduct of chocolate consumption, called theobromine, in the cord blood of pregnant women. Although the study did not distinguish between dark and other kinds of chocolate, dark chocolate has higher levels of theobromine.

The study of 1,681 women showed that those who reported chocolate consumption of more than five servings a week had a lower risk of developing preeclampsia. Among the 1,346 women with cord blood data available, those with higher theobromine levels had significantly lower risk of developing preeclampsia than those who had low levels of theobromine.

Results were particularly dramatic for women with the highest levels of theobromine. Women who had levels in the top quartile for theobromine were nearly 70% less likely to develop preeclampsia than women in the lowest quartile for theobromine. Having the theobromine data available as a more objective measure of chocolate consumption was a strength of the study, Triche says.

Researchers have speculated that the presence of anti-oxidants called flavonoids in dark chocolate may confer cardiovascular benefits.

“This looks promising, but we need to do more research into how much and what type of chocolate is the most beneficial,’’ Triche says.

The Yale researcher also cautioned that the study results do not mean pregnant women can eat all the chocolate they want. Excess consumption of all sweets can lead to weight gain and other health problems, she notes.

— By Bill Hathaway


T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

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Yale affiliates are honored with election to prestigious societies

Strobel’s students rediscover sense of scientific ‘wonder’ . .

Yale to celebrate 307th graduation

Summertime at Yale

Scientist Joan Steitz wins nation’s largest prize in medicine

University names 18 future leaders as 2008 World Fellows

ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS

Architecture students helping to design Mideast Peace Park

China’s President Hu Jintao meets with participants in . . .

In Yale-led study, astronomers discover nine young galaxies . . .

Research on male mating behavior suggests brains may be unisex . . .

Paul Anastas honored as the founder of ‘green chemistry’

Town-gown partners honored with Elm-Ivy Awards

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE NEWS

Exhibits explore artist’s Liverpool years, British watercolors

Two student-curated shows focus on the medium of photography

Library creates digital archive of ‘oldest college daily’

Two seniors will study at the University of Cambridge as Gates Scholars

Campus leaders discuss strategies for increasing staff diversity

Former Bucknell chaplain is named new pastor of University Church

Professor Miroslav Volf will co-teach class with . . . Tony Blair

Council of Masters honors 10 juniors for their scholarship . . .

Conference focuses on ‘Women and Men in the Globalizing University’

The future of ‘Computers, Freedom and Privacy’ to be addressed . . .

Karyn Frick honored for contributions to women’s health

Campus Notes


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