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New analysis from the College of Birmingham exhibits that consuming flavanol-rich meals—like tea, berries, apples, and cocoa—can shield vascular well being in males from the dangerous results of extended sitting. The analysis has been printed within the Journal of Physiology.
Sedentary conduct is prevalent in trendy societies; it’s estimated that younger adults sit for roughly six hours a day, however sitting for lengthy durations induces declines in vascular perform.
Earlier research have proven {that a} 1% discount in vascular perform, as measured by brachial Circulate-mediated dilatation (FMD), which measures the elasticity of the arteries, results in a 13% elevated danger of heart problems, comparable to coronary heart illness, strokes, and coronary heart assaults.
The researchers wished to discover if there was a manner that food plan, notably meals which are excessive in flavanols, may assist shield in opposition to the chance to our vascular system related to durations of uninterrupted sitting.
Flavanols are a kind of polyphenol compound that happens naturally in some fruits, tea, and nuts, and cocoa beans. They’ve been proven to have cardiovascular well being advantages, comparable to defending the vascular system in periods of psychological stress.
Dr. Catarina Rendeiro, Assistant Professor in Dietary Sciences on the College of Birmingham, and main creator, stated, “Whether or not we’re sitting at desks, behind the wheel of a automobile, on a practice, or on the couch studying a ebook or watching TV, all of us spend a number of time seated. Although we aren’t shifting our our bodies, we’re nonetheless placing them beneath stress.
“Finding ways to mitigate the impact that sitting for uninterrupted periods has on our vascular system could help us cut the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.”
Deaths of heart problems are on the rise; the British Coronary heart Basis reviews that deaths of working-aged adults within the UK elevated by 18% to 21,975 in 2023, in comparison with 2019. As well as, latest research have discovered that cardiovascular ailments value the UK an estimated £29 billion.
The researchers examined whether or not consuming flavanols simply earlier than two hours of sitting may protect blood vessel perform within the legs and arms. Forty younger wholesome males, 20 who had increased ranges of health and 20 who had a decrease degree of health, consumed both a high-flavanol (695 mg of whole flavanols per beverage) or low-flavanol cocoa drink (5.6 mg of whole flavanols per beverage), earlier than finishing a two-hour sitting trial.
The examine was not carried out with ladies, as adjustments in estrogen ranges in the course of the menstrual cycle are suspected to have an effect on the affect of flavanols on vascular well being throughout sitting. This ought to be the main target of one other future trial.
The group took a variety of vascular measures earlier than and after sitting, together with:
FMD within the superficial femoral artery and the brachial artery,
arterial resting shear charge and blood circulate
systolic and diastolic blood stress
leg muscle oxygenation
Each the decrease and better health teams who had the low-flavanol cocoa earlier than sitting, skilled FMD declines within the arteries of their legs and arms. This implies that increased ranges of health don’t present safety from sitting. It additionally considerably elevated diastolic blood stress, decreased shear charge and blood circulate in each arteries, and resulted in declines in muscle oxygenation in each health teams.
Nevertheless, the analysis discovered that these teams who consumed the high-flavanol cocoa drink, once more in each health teams, didn’t expertise FMD declines in both of the arteries of their arms or legs. That is the primary time flavanols have been proven to be efficient at stopping sitting-induced vascular dysfunction in younger wholesome males.
Dr. Sam Lucas, Professor of Cerebrovascular, Train & Environmental Physiology on the College of Birmingham and co-author of the examine, stated, “Our experiment indicates that higher fitness levels do not prevent the temporary impairment of vascular function induced by sitting when only drinking low-flavanol cocoa. Importantly, after the high-flavanol drink, both fitter and less-fit participants kept their FMD the same as it was before sitting for two hours.”
The examine can be the primary to show that baseline ranges of cardiorespiratory health don’t alter the vascular results of flavanol consumption. Because of this people can profit from flavanol consumption no matter their ranges of bodily health.
Alessio Daniele, Ph.D. pupil from the College of Birmingham, added, “It is actually quite easy to add high flavanol foods to your diet. There are cocoa products available in supermarkets and health stores which are processed through methods that preserve flavanol levels. If cocoa isn’t your thing, fruits like apples, plums and berries, nuts, and black and green tea are all common kitchen staples and are readily available.”
Dr. Catarina Rendeiro concluded, “Our analysis exhibits that consuming high-flavanol meals and drinks in periods spent sitting down is an effective option to cut back a few of the affect of inactivity on the vascular system.
“Given how common sedentary lifestyles have become and the increased risk this can have to vascular health, using flavanol-rich food and drink, especially in combination with breaking up periods of inactivity by going for a short walk or standing up, could be a good way to enhance long-term health, no matter the individual’s fitness level.”
Extra data:
The Journal of Physiology (2025). DOI: 10.1113/JP289038
Supplied by
College of Birmingham
Quotation:
Flavanols in cocoa can shield blood vessel perform following uninterrupted sitting, examine exhibits (2025, October 29)
retrieved 29 October 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-10-flavanols-cocoa-blood-vessel-function.html
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