Effect of Natural Cocoa Powder Supplementation on Oxidative Stress in Healthy Ghanaians
Journal Title: European Journal of Medicinal Plants - Year 2015, Vol 5, Issue 2
Abstract
Introduction: Natural cocoa powder (NCP) has been recognized to possess significant amounts of flavonoids and methylxanthines with healthful benefits. Little or no work has been done on adult Ghanaians involving supplementation with NCP. We hypothesized that chronic consumption of NCP would improve oxidative stress biomarkers and endothelial integrity. Aims: The study aimed at evaluating the long term effect of NCP supplementation on selected oxidative stress biomarkers in healthy adult Ghanaians. Study Design: This was a longitudinal intervention study design. Place and Duration of Study: Chemical Pathology Unit Laboratory,School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS), Korle-Bu,Virology and Physiology Department Laboratories, University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) and the Central Laboratory of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, between August 2011 and June 2013. Methodology: Seventeen subjects were randomly selected. NCP was consumed as a beverage twice daily before meals for 12 weeks. Pre- and post- supplementation blood draw, anthropometry and analysis of advanced glycated end-products (AGEs), vascular cell adhesion molecule1 (VCAM-1), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hemeoxygenase 1 (HO-1) were determined. Results: Mean age was 30.8 ± 10.2 years. Weight and BMI, were significantly decreased by 1.67 kg and 0.05 kg/m2 (P= 0.009 and 0.006, respectively). Percentage skeletal muscle and resting metabolism showed significant increases of 2.46% and 55 kcal (P= 0.031 and 0.028, respectively). GSH-Px significantly increased by 0.23 ng/L (P= 0.001) while MDA showed a significant decrease of 0.05 ng/L (P = 0.033). Conclusion: NCP caused a significant reduction in BMI and increase in antioxidant levels. NCP reduced oxidative stress and a cardiovascular risk factor such as obesity.
Authors and Affiliations
Elsie S. A. Amedonu, George A. Asare, Daniel A. Antwi
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP350303
- DOI 10.9734/EJMP/2015/11305
- Views 115
- Downloads 0
Commiphora africana Resin Phytochemical Analysis & Some Biological Aspects
Medicinal plants are the richest bioresources of drugs. There is need to validate medicinal and aromatic plants researches results through an organized database. Objective: To identify the terpenoids in Commiphora africa...
Hepatoprotective Effect of Aqueous Extract of Lippia multiflora Leaves against Ethanol-induced Toxicity in Wistar Rats
Aim: Usually called Tea of Gambia, Lippia multiflora is traditionally used for its sedative, relaxing, febrifuge, anti-flu-like, antispasmodic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-catarrhal, mucolytic, anti-infective an...
Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Activity of Aqueous Extracts of Croton membranaceus in Rodent Bone Marrow and Human Benign Prostate Hyperplasic Cells
Background: Croton membranaceus is a plant cherished by traditional healers in Ghana for its anti-prostate cancer properties. Its cytotoxic effect as well as safety has been proved. However, to the best of our knowledge,...
Characterization of Phenolic Compounds of Ulva rigida (Chlorophycae) and Its Antioxidant Activity
Ulva rigida is a worldwide distributed green alga and is commenly used for human nutrition. Extracts of this seaweed were shown anti-hypercholestierinemic, antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic activities. The antioxidant e...
Evaluation of Haemolytic Activity of Leaves from Acacia podalyriifolia
Acacia podalyriifolia A. Cunn ex G. Don (Fabaceae) is a plant used in south Brazil for ornamental purposes. The leaves are used in folk medicine for the treatment of bacterial infection, diabetes, gastrointestinal distur...