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| Chocolate study volunteers wanted | Chocolate study volunteers wanted |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Volunteers are wanted by researchers to see how compounds in dark chocolate might help fight heart disease. | Volunteers are wanted by researchers to see how compounds in dark chocolate might help fight heart disease. |
| The scientists in Aberdeen aim to assess how flavonoids, found naturally in cocoa, could fend off disease. | The scientists in Aberdeen aim to assess how flavonoids, found naturally in cocoa, could fend off disease. |
| Forty volunteers aged between 18 and 70 will be asked to eat a cocoa-rich dark chocolate specially made for the study, standard chocolate, or white chocolate. | Forty volunteers aged between 18 and 70 will be asked to eat a cocoa-rich dark chocolate specially made for the study, standard chocolate, or white chocolate. |
| Urine and blood samples will then be taken to assess the impact the compounds have on blood function. | Urine and blood samples will then be taken to assess the impact the compounds have on blood function. |
| Perhaps studies like ours could ultimately lead to these special compounds being included in healthier foods or in health supplements Luisa OstertagStudy researcher | Perhaps studies like ours could ultimately lead to these special compounds being included in healthier foods or in health supplements Luisa OstertagStudy researcher |
| Dr Baukje de Roos, principal investigator from the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, said: "A main characteristic of cardiovascular disease is impaired blood flow and the formation of blood clots. | Dr Baukje de Roos, principal investigator from the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, said: "A main characteristic of cardiovascular disease is impaired blood flow and the formation of blood clots. |
| "Platelets play a key role in our blood preventing bleeding if we have suffered a cut or a wound. But in disease conditions platelets can go into overdrive and stick together forming blood clots and blocking blood vessels. | "Platelets play a key role in our blood preventing bleeding if we have suffered a cut or a wound. But in disease conditions platelets can go into overdrive and stick together forming blood clots and blocking blood vessels. |
| "We already know that flavonoids can stop platelets from sticking together but we don't know how they do this." | "We already know that flavonoids can stop platelets from sticking together but we don't know how they do this." |
| Dr Roos said: "Our study will help us understand how these flavonoids may benefit blood platelets and, in turn, help protect against cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke." | Dr Roos said: "Our study will help us understand how these flavonoids may benefit blood platelets and, in turn, help protect against cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke." |
| 'Not the answer' | 'Not the answer' |
| Luisa Ostertag, a fellow study researcher from the university, added: "The standard and white chocolate bars are being used as a control in the study as they will have no benefit on platelets because it is the compounds in cocoa that hold the key. | Luisa Ostertag, a fellow study researcher from the university, added: "The standard and white chocolate bars are being used as a control in the study as they will have no benefit on platelets because it is the compounds in cocoa that hold the key. |
| "But eating a lot of dark chocolate bars is not the answer to protecting against cardiovascular disease because they are high in saturated fat and sugar. | "But eating a lot of dark chocolate bars is not the answer to protecting against cardiovascular disease because they are high in saturated fat and sugar. |
| "But perhaps studies like ours could ultimately lead to these special compounds being included in healthier foods or in health supplements." | "But perhaps studies like ours could ultimately lead to these special compounds being included in healthier foods or in health supplements." |
| Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death in the UK. | |
| Anyone interested in taking part in the study, who has no health problems, can contact 01224 716693 or email l.ostertag@abdn.ac.uk | Anyone interested in taking part in the study, who has no health problems, can contact 01224 716693 or email l.ostertag@abdn.ac.uk |
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