Center of Excellence for Plant and Mushroom Foods For Health, The Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Mol Nutr Food Res. 2013 Jun;57(6):948-61. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201200837. Epub 2013 May 2.
Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L., Sterculiaceae) is a widely consumed food ingredient. Although typically found in high-fat, high-sugar foods such as chocolate, cocoa is rich in polyphenols, methylxanthines, and monounsaturated fatty acids. There is increasing evidence that moderate consumption of cocoa and cocoa-containing foods may have beneficial effects on the health including vasodilatory, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Polyphenols in cocoa, including monomeric flavanols, as well as polymeric proanthocyanidins, may play a role in these observed beneficial effects. Chronic inflammation represents a potential mechanistic link between obesity and its related pathologies: insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, which comprise the metabolic syndrome. In the present review, we discuss the available data regarding the modulation of metabolic syndrome-related inflammation by cocoa and cocoa-derived compounds. We emphasize studies using laboratory animals or human subjects since such studies often represent the strongest available evidence for biological effects. In vitro studies are included to provide some mechanistic context, but are critically interpreted. Although the available data seem to support the anti-inflammatory effects of cocoa, further studies are needed with regard to the dose-response relationship as well as the underlying mechanisms of action. We hope this review will stimulate further research on cocoa and its anti-inflammatory activities.
可可（Theobroma cacao L.，梧桐科）是一种广泛食用的食品成分。虽然通常在高脂肪、高糖的食物中发现，如巧克力，但可可富含多酚、甲基黄嘌呤和单不饱和脂肪酸。越来越多的证据表明，适量食用可可和含可可的食物可能对健康有益，包括血管舒张、抗氧化和抗炎作用。可可中的多酚，包括单体黄烷醇和聚合原花青素，可能在这些观察到的有益作用中发挥作用。慢性炎症代表肥胖及其相关病理之间的潜在机制联系：胰岛素抵抗、血脂异常和高血压，这些构成了代谢综合征。在本综述中，我们讨论了可可和可可衍生化合物对代谢综合征相关炎症的调节的现有数据。我们强调使用实验室动物或人类受试者的研究，因为这些研究通常代表对生物学效应的最强现有证据。还包括体外研究，以提供一些机制背景，但要进行批判性解释。尽管现有数据似乎支持可可的抗炎作用，但仍需要进一步研究剂量反应关系以及作用的潜在机制。我们希望本综述将激发对可可及其抗炎活性的进一步研究。
