Abstract
Cocoa powder has twice more antioxidants than red wine and three times more than green tea. Ten percent of its weight is made up of flavonoids. Cocoa has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating cyclooxigenase-2 receptors expression in the endothelium and enhancing nitric oxide bioavailability. There are evidences that while polyphenols ingestion have cardioprotective effects in the adult, it may have deleterious effect on the fetus if ingested by the mother on the third trimester of pregnancy, causing intrauterine fetal ductus arteriosus (DA) constriction. Polyphenols present in many foods and their anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities have been shown to be as or more powerful than those of indomethacin. These effects are dependent on the inhibition of modulation of the arachidonic acid and the synthesis of prostaglandins, especially E-2, which is responsible for fetal DA patency. So, we hypothesized that this same mechanism is responsible for the harmful effect of polyphenol-rich foods, such as cocoa, upon the fetal DA after maternal intake of such substances in the third trimester of pregnancy, thereby rising the perspective of a note of caution for pregnant women diet.
Highlights
Cocoa powder has twice more antioxidants than red wine and three times more than green tea
We aim to discuss potential interferences of cocoa antioxidants with central anti-inflammatory mechanisms, by focusing on pathways involved in cyclooxygenase and nitric oxide responses, and its potential side effects
Because the expression of COX-2 is primarily regulated by eukaryotic transcription factors such as NF-κB and activator protein (AP)-1, inhibition of AP-1 and/or NF-κB might lead to the suppression of cell transformation through the blocking of COX-2 expression (Hsu et al, 2000; Lee and Lee, 2006; Kang et al, 2008)
Summary
Mice with atherosclerosis Mice and in vitro Healthy pregnant humans Healthy pregnant humans. Pregnant humans with fetal CDA Pregnant ewe Pregnant ewe Pregnant ewe Improved endothelial function. Inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation Increased FMD Increased FMD, MWD and MWT
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