Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Prevention

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...

Cancer Prevention

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...

Compounds Essential to Human Function

Compounds Essential to Human Function

The human body is composed of cells that are fundamentally made up of several different molecules. These molecules are essential to carry out all physiological processes in the body and are broadly classified into organic and inorganic based on their chemical structures.
Inorganic Compounds Essential to Human Functioning
Inorganic compounds essential to human functioning include water, salts, acids, and bases. These compounds are inorganic, i.e., they do not have a carbon-hydrogen bond. Water...

Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients

Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients

Bioavailability studies are essential for evaluating a drug's therapeutic efficacy and understanding its absorption patterns under various physiological conditions. Conducting such studies on target patient populations provides more relevant data by simulating real-world disease states. However, practical challenges often necessitate the use of young, healthy adult volunteers as study subjects.Patients may exhibit altered drug absorption patterns due to the effects of the disease itself,...

Taste Buds and Receptors

Taste Buds and Receptors

Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...

Lifestyle Factors and Health

Lifestyle Factors and Health

Lifestyle factors play a critical role in maintaining overall health and preventing chronic diseases. Key elements, such as regular physical activity, a nutritious diet, and abstinence from smoking, can significantly enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being while reducing the risk of several life-threatening conditions.
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The impact of (poly)phenol-rich sugarcane extract intervention on markers of gastrointestinal integrity and systemic inflammation in response to exertional-heat stress.

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition·2026

Same author

Acute response to a high-saturated-fat, high-refined-carbohydrate meal in healthy young men shows novel perturbation of multiple metabolic and defense pathways.

Food & function·2026

Same author

Nutrition's role in extending healthspan: CRN-international symposium report.

European journal of nutrition·2026

Same author

Impact of Acute (Poly)Phenol-Rich Sugarcane Extract Consumption on Postprandial Glycemic Response in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Crossover Study.

Foods (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Impact of the orange juice fruit matrix on postprandial glycemia: a crossover randomized trial in healthy young men with <i>post hoc</i> analysis of interindividual response variability.

Food & function·2026

Same author

Dexamethasone enhances intestinal glucose absorption and TMPRSS2 expression with implications for hyperglycaemia and infection risk.

Scientific reports·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Vacuum-Forced Agroinfiltration for In planta Transformation of Recalcitrant Plants: Cacao as a Case Study

Vacuum-Forced Agroinfiltration for In planta Transformation of Recalcitrant Plants: Cacao as a Case Study

Published on: November 17, 2023

Cocoa and human health.

Samantha Ellam¹, Gary Williamson

¹School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom. fs07sle@leeds.ac.uk

Annual Review of Nutrition

|May 7, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cocoa consumption, rich in flavonoids like epicatechin, shows potential cardiovascular benefits by improving endothelial function, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. Further research confirms cocoa

More Related Videos

High-throughput, Microscale Protocol for the Analysis of Processing Parameters and Nutritional Qualities in Maize (Zea mays L.)

High-throughput, Microscale Protocol for the Analysis of Processing Parameters and Nutritional Qualities in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Published on: June 16, 2018

The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability

The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability

Published on: April 28, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Vacuum-Forced Agroinfiltration for In planta Transformation of Recalcitrant Plants: Cacao as a Case Study

Vacuum-Forced Agroinfiltration for In planta Transformation of Recalcitrant Plants: Cacao as a Case Study

Published on: November 17, 2023

High-throughput, Microscale Protocol for the Analysis of Processing Parameters and Nutritional Qualities in Maize (Zea mays L.)

High-throughput, Microscale Protocol for the Analysis of Processing Parameters and Nutritional Qualities in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Published on: June 16, 2018

The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability

The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability

Published on: April 28, 2022

Area of Science:

Nutritional Science
Pharmacology
Cardiovascular Research

Background:

Cocoa, derived from Theobroma cacao L., contains bioactive compounds like flavonoids (epicatechin, oligomeric procyanidins), theobromine, and magnesium.
These compounds possess potential health effects, with varying absorption rates and metabolic pathways in the human body.
Previous research includes numerous in vitro and in vivo studies, with over 70 human intervention studies in the last 12 years.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the effects of cocoa and its constituents on human health.
To identify key biomarkers affected by cocoa consumption.
To elucidate the mechanisms underlying cocoa's biological activity.

Main Methods:

Analysis of existing in vitro and in vivo studies.
Review of approximately 70 human intervention studies on cocoa and cocoa-containing products.
Examination of mechanistic evidence related to epicatechin's action on nitric oxide synthesis and arginine metabolism.

Main Results:

Cocoa consumption significantly impacts endothelial function, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
Epicatechin influences nitric oxide synthesis/breakdown and arginine metabolism.
Oligomeric procyanidins are absorbed after colonic microbial transformation.

Conclusions:

Cocoa is a biologically active ingredient with potential benefits for cardiovascular disease biomarkers.
Dietary considerations, such as calorie and sugar content in chocolate, are important in intervention studies.
Evidence supports cocoa's role in modulating key cardiovascular health indicators.