Consumption of Chocolate in Pregnancy is Beneficial

Emobileclinic Researchers’corner:

Consumption of Chocolate in Pregnancy is Beneficial

A recent study suggests that a consumption of chocolate might be beneficial after all in pregnancy. ‘Previous studies showed conflicting results regarding the role of chocolate consumption during pregnancy and the risk of preeclampsia’. Majority of pregnant women do not want to add unnecessary weight during pregnancy and would want to avoid stuff like chocolate except when the urge is there. Now experts are saying a daily consumption 30gram of high-flavanol chocolate should be incorporated into the daily diet. What effect does this have?
The researchers chose 129 women with pregnancy between 11 and 14 weeks and divided the women into two.’The pregnant women selected were randomized to either high-flavanol or low-flavanol chocolate. A total of 30 grams of chocolate was consumed daily for 12 weeks and women were followed until delivery’ The researchers evaluated Preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, placenta weight, and birthweight.



The ” study indicates that chocolate could have a positive impact on placenta and fetal growth and development and that chocolate’s effects are not solely and directly due to flavanol content,” explained Emmanuel Bujold, M.D

There was no difference in pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, placental weight in the two groups. The researchers however noticed improvement in ‘uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index (a surrogate marker of blood velocity in the uterine, placental and fetal circulations) in both groups.’
The researchers concluded by emphasizing the role of flavanol in chocolate might not be solely responsible to the results ‘the improvement of the pulsatility index observed in the 2 chocolate groups might suggest that chocolate effects are not solely and directly due to flavanol content.’

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