Cocoa could improve cardiovascular health
University's Metabolic Unit seeks volunteers between 50 and 80 years of age who are overweight or obese for a cocoa extract study
The Metabolic Unit of the University of Navarra is looking for new volunteers, men and women between 50 and 80 years of age, who are overweight or obese to carry out a study with cocoa extract.
According to one of its leaders, Marian Zulet, professor at School of Pharmacy, some previous programs of study "show that regular consumption of products with polyphenols, such as cocoa and its derivatives, can have cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of mortality. In this regard, it has been published that cocoa reduces blood pressure and improves oxidative status, increasing good cholesterol".
All those interested in participating in this project can contact contact with those responsible through telephone numbers 948 425744 and 616244655, or by sending an email to the address voluntariosnut@unav.es.
10 ready meals and 10 free desserts
In the new study to evaluate the beneficial effects of cocoa will provide volunteers with ten different dishes and ten desserts to consume during the week (one dish per day along with a dessert). In total, the study will last one month and during this time the volunteer will follow a weight loss per diem expenses in which cocoa will be included in ready-made dishes such as zucchini cream, yogurt dessert, spinach, risotto, chickpeas, paella, pasta, gazpacho, hake, chicken, etc.
The research is directed by Professor Alfredo Martínez, Full Professor of Nutrition, with the collaboration of dieticians-nutritionists, pharmacists, a doctor-dietician and a nurse. All of them belong to the Metabolic Unit of the department of Food Sciences, Physiology and Toxicology, where they develop various projects aimed at promote, prevent and treat obesity and its related diseases through Nutrition. In all cases, participation in programs of study is completely free of charge and new volunteers are regularly required to carry them out.
The specialists of the Metabolic Unit will carry out a biweekly control of each of the volunteers and on the first and last day of the study their weight and body fat will be controlled. In addition, a blood test will be used to measure cholesterol, glucose and insulin levels, among other factors.
"With all this," stresses the dietitian-nutritionist in charge of the study, Idoia Ibero, "we expect to obtain an improvement in the body composition and cardiovascular health of the volunteers, as indicated by some previous programs of study ".