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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
09:50
Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade
Published on: August 14, 2019
Flavanols, the Kuna, cocoa consumption, and nitric oxide
Norman K Hollenberg1, Naomi D L Fisher, Marjorie L McCullough
1Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Journal of the American Society of Hypertension : JASH
|April 23, 2010
Summary
The Kuna Indians consume flavanol-rich cocoa, leading to low blood pressure and reduced disease risk. Further research is needed to confirm if cocoa flavanols protect against cardiovascular disease and other serious illnesses.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Cardiovascular Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The Kuna indigenous population in Panama exhibits exceptionally low blood pressure and lower incidence of chronic diseases.
- A distinctive dietary habit of the Kuna people is the high consumption of cocoa, rich in flavanols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential protective effects of high flavanol intake from cocoa on cardiovascular health and chronic disease risk in the Kuna population.
- To investigate the link between dietary flavanols, nitric oxide synthesis, and health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Observational analysis of dietary habits and health status in the Kuna population.
- Review of existing literature on flavonoid biochemistry and nitric oxide synthesis.
Main Results:
- Kuna Indians demonstrate significantly lower blood pressure and reduced rates of myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes, and cancer compared to other Panamanian populations.
- Cocoa flavanols are known to activate nitric oxide synthesis in humans, a key factor in vascular health.
Conclusions:
- The high intake of flavanol-rich cocoa by the Kuna may contribute to their remarkable cardiovascular health and longevity.
- The findings strongly support the need for large-scale, randomized controlled trials to validate the protective effects of cocoa flavanols.
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