Consumption of chocolate during pregnancy (part two)
Both low and high flavanol chocolate
can have benefits for the fetus.
The researchers recorded 129 expectant mothers who was between 11-14 weeks pregnant.
Expectant mothers were selected to consume 30 g of chocolate low or high in flavanol daily for 12 weeks. The team found that there were no differences in preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, the placental weight and birth weight between the 2 chocolate groups-low and high flavanol.
However, the researchers found a significant improvement in its Doppler pulse uterine artery in both groups, suggesting that both low and high flavonolol chocolate can benefit her fetal development.
This improvement was much larger than usual in the general population, the group notes.
"This study shows that chocolate could have positive impact on fetal development and placenta and that the effects of chocolate not due exclusively and directly "We can not assume the overall effect of chocolate on the risk of preeclampsia from the results of our study, because we did not have a group of women who did not take chocolate," says one of the researchers.
However, previous epidemiological studies suggest that the consumption dark chocolate during pregnancy could help improving placental function and in reducing preeclampsia, the head of research added.
He added that the next step for the team is conduct a large randomized controlled trial, in order to better determine if chocolate intake among pregnant mothers can reduce the risk of preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders associated with pregnancy.
* The content on this blog is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health care providers with questions you may have about medical conditions.