Flavanols in cocoa could help treat diabetes, strokes and dementia

26/07/05 Molecules in cocoa credited for the "heart-healthy" benefits of certain cocoa and dark chocolate may also in the future help treat diabetes, strokes and vascular dementia, and could soon be available to pharmaceutical companies for development into new medications, scientists said Monday.

Opening a two-day meeting in Switzerland, researchers said their findings point toward a potential major new class of medications, based on novel synthesized flavanols, to help prevent or treat serious illnesses. "The mounting scientific evidence on cocoa flavanols is extraordinary," said Dr. Norm Hollenberg, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and one of the first researchers to identify the potential health benefits of cocoa flavanols. "This is a scientific breakthrough that could well lead to a medical breakthrough."

Additionally, Mars scientists have discovered that entire "libraries" of cocoa flavanols can be synthesized, and that new flavanols can be developed from natural flavanols, enhancing their feasibility for use in pharmaceutical medications.

The research was discussed among scientists from around the world at a meeting convened by Mars, Incorporated, which has supported cocoa research for more than 15 years. The company confirmed that it is holding serious discussions with large pharmaceutical companies for a licensing or joint venture agreement that could enable some of these compounds to be developed as prescription drugs.

The Swiss meeting provided an opportunity for scientists from around the world, who are working independently on different cocoa flavanol research, to share their findings in a peer-review setting. The presentations provided new insight into the potential benefits of cocoa flavanols for treatment of serious illnesses such as dementia, diabetes and stroke. This research builds upon more than 80 peer-reviewed publications that have covered, test tube and clinical research on cocoa flavanols.