In 2015-2016 approximately 7,3 million tons of retail chocolate were consumed worldwide.
This chocolate confectionery consumption is expected to continue to rise.
The average person in the US consumes 4.4 kg of chocolate per year.
Higher depression scores associated with greater chocolate consumption (Rose N).
A higher national chocolate consumption in a European study correlated with a higher suicide rate (Lester D).
No association between chocolate intake and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, or both combined was observed in study participants free of pre-existing major chronic conditions- data from 83,310 postmenopausal women in the Women’s Health Initiative.
Meta-analysis found an association of chocolate consumption with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, death, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and diabetes.
Intervention studies suggest chocolate consumption is related to improvements in flow mediated dilatation of blood flow and markers of insulin resistance.
Health benefits of chocolate may be related to flavonoids that are present in chocolate.
Flavonoids may act as an antioxidant, anti-platelet and anti-inflammatory agents protecting against cardiovascular disease.
Flavonoids in chocolate have potential protection for risk factors of cardiovascular disease such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and improved endothelial function.
Flavonoids may act as a fat reducing agent.
Cocoa, contains the 7S globulin, which contributes to cocoa/chocolate taste and aroma,
Female monozygotic twins studies found that hire habitual intake of a number of flavonoids was associated with a lower fat mass, independent of shared genetic and common environmental factors.
It is suggested that the benefits of chocolate consumption on health is a result of lower levels of adiposity among chocolate consumers.
A meta-analysis show that a higher confectionery intake was inversely associated with overweight and obesity.
A prospective study of 12,830 participants showed however, the chocolate consumption was associated with long-term weight gain in a dose response manner.
Dark chocolate contains higher amounts of flavonoids then other chocolate types.
In. NHANES study chocolate consumption was associated with lower markers of adiposity: people who reported any chocolate consumption had on average a 0.92 kg/m² lower body mass index and 2.07 cm lower waist circumference ithan those who did not report any chocolate consumption; a higher amount of chocolate consumption was associated with lower body mass index and weight circumference (Smith L).