Inverse Relationship Between Chocolate Consumption and Insulin Resistance and Liver Enzyme Levels

by | Aug 22, 2017 | 2016, Cardiovascular Health, Flavonoids

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. A cross-sectional study of 1153 Luxembourg participants, that studied the effects of daily chocolate consumption on insulin resistance and liver function, found that increased chocolate consumption significantly lowered the risk for developing cardiometabolic disorders.

chocolateWhile chocolate is rich in sugar and fat, converging evidence suggests that cocoa and its derivatives possess special cardiometabolic effects, ones that may be particularly relevant to the alarming prevalence of cardiovascular disease worldwide. Flavonoids are a specific class of polyphenols naturally found in cocoa and associated with anti-inflammatory properties that may protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other inflammation-related diseases 1,2. Cocoa contains significantly higher concentrations of flavonoids, relative to tea, red wine, or even fruits 3, earning it a higher antioxidant capacity and enabling a beneficial influence on vascular health 4. Animal studies report that supplementation with cocoa can produce an attenuation of insulin resistance and may even diminish the severity of fatty liver disease 5. In humans, flavonol-rich dark chocolate has been shown to reduce levels of liver enzymes in patients with HIV and Hepatitis C, indicative of decreased inflammation in the liver 6. In a 2016 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers sought to gain a better understanding of the health benefits of chocolate consumption on insulin resistance and liver function by looking at the relationship between daily chocolate intake and serum insulin and liver enzyme levels.

A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted with a group of 1153 individuals (18-69 years) in Luxembourg. Participants completed a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire assessing frequency of chocolate consumption (grams/day), and insulin resistance was measured using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) based on blood glucose and insulin levels. Biomarkers for liver function, serum γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase (γ-GT), serum aspartate transaminase (AST), and serum alanine transaminase (ALT), were also assessed.

Results of the study indicated that after adjusting for age, sex, education, lifestyle, and dietary confounders, higher intake of chocolate was associated with lower serum insulin levels (β = -0.16, p = 0.003), HOMA-IR (β = -0.16, p = 0.004), γ-GT (β = -0.12, p = 0.009), and ALT (β = -0.09, p = 0.004).

The independent inverse relationship between daily chocolate consumption and insulin resistance and liver enzyme levels suggests that supplementation with chocolate may boost liver functioning and offer protective benefits against insulin resistance. In line with evidence linking chocolate consumption with lower risk for cardiometabolic disorders 7, the study confirmed that daily intake of 100 mg of chocolate was associated with lower serum insulin (by 0.16 µg/l), HOMA-IR (by 0.16), and liver enzyme levels (by 0.10 mg/l). Future research involving the use of randomized-controlled studies should validate the cross-sectional relationship reported here and further explore the potential health benefits of chocolate.

Source: Alkerwi A, Sauvageot N, Crichton GE. Daily chocolate consumption is inversely associated with insulin resistance and liver enzymes in the Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg study. British Journal of Nutrition. 2016; 115: 1661-1668. DOI: 10.1017/S00071145116000702.

© The Authors 2016 British Journal of Nutrition (2016), 115, 1661–1668

Posted August 14, 2017.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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