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Theobromine Does Not Affect Fasting and Postprandial HDL Cholesterol Efflux Capacity, While It Decreases Fasting

Charlotte P J Talbot1, Ronald P Mensink1, Lotte Smolders1

  • 1Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
|May 26, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Theobromine, found in chocolate, did not improve cholesterol efflux but lowered fasting miR-92a levels. A high-fat meal boosted cholesterol efflux and miRNA levels, suggesting dietary impacts on cardiovascular health markers.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Biochemistry
  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Chocolate consumption is linked to reduced cardiovascular disease risk, potentially due to theobromine.
  • Theobromine's effects on cardiovascular health may involve high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-mediated cholesterol efflux.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) within HDL particles might play a role in mediating these effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of theobromine consumption on fasting and postprandial cholesterol efflux.
  • To examine theobromine's effect on specific miRNA levels (miR-92a, miR-223, miR-135a*) in serum.
  • To understand the relationship between dietary intake, cholesterol metabolism, and miRNA expression.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, double-blind, crossover study involving 44 overweight and obese participants.
  • Participants consumed 500 mg/day of theobromine or a placebo for 4 weeks.
  • Cholesterol efflux was measured using J774 macrophages, and miRNA levels were quantified in serum.

Main Results:

  • Theobromine supplementation did not significantly alter fasting or postprandial cholesterol efflux capacity.
  • Fasting serum levels of miR-92a were decreased with theobromine intake (p < 0.05).
  • A high-fat meal significantly increased postprandial cholesterol efflux, miR-92a, and miR-223 levels.

Conclusions:

  • Theobromine consumption did not enhance ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux but did reduce fasting miR-92a levels.
  • Dietary intake, specifically a high-fat meal, significantly impacts postprandial cholesterol efflux and associated miRNA levels.
  • These findings suggest a complex interplay between dietary components, cholesterol transport, and miRNA regulation in cardiovascular health.
Abstract

Keywords:
cholesterol efflux capacityhigh-density lipoproteinmicroRNAspostprandialtheobromine

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