TY - JOUR
T1 - Daily chocolate consumption is inversely associated with insulin resistance and liver enzymes in the Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg study
AU - Alkerwi, Ala'A
AU - Sauvageot, Nicolas
AU - Crichton, Georgina E.
AU - Elias, Merrill F.
AU - Stranges, Saverio
N1 - Funding Information:
A. A. is supported by a grant from the Fond National de Recherche for the DIQUA-LUX project (5870404)
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © The Authors 2016.
PY - 2016/5/14
Y1 - 2016/5/14
N2 - This study examined the association of chocolate consumption with insulin resistance and serum liver enzymes in a national sample of adults in Luxembourg. A random sample of 1153 individuals, aged 18-69 years, was recruited to participate in the cross-sectional Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg study. Chocolate consumption (g/d) was obtained from a semi-quantitative FFQ. Blood glucose and insulin levels were used for the homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Hepatic biomarkers such as serum γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase (γ-GT), serum aspartate transaminase and serum alanine transaminase (ALT) (mg/l) were assessed using standard laboratory assays. Chocolate consumers (81.8 %) were more likely to be younger, physically active, affluent people with higher education levels and fewer chronic co-morbidities. After excluding subjects taking antidiabetic medications, higher chocolate consumption was associated with lower HOMA-IR (β=-0.16, P=0.004), serum insulin levels (β=-0.16, P=0.003) and γ-GT (β=-0.12, P=0.009) and ALT (β=-0.09, P=0.004), after adjustment for age, sex, education, lifestyle and dietary confounding factors, including intakes of fruits and vegetables, alcohol, polyphenol-rich coffee and tea. This study reports an independent inverse relationship between daily chocolate consumption and levels of insulin, HOMA-IR and liver enzymes in adults, suggesting that chocolate consumption may improve liver enzymes and protect against insulin resistance, a well-established risk factor for cardiometabolic disorders. Further observational prospective research and well-designed randomised-controlled studies are needed to confirm this cross-sectional relationship and to comprehend the role and mechanisms that different types of chocolate may play in insulin resistance and cardiometabolic disorders.
AB - This study examined the association of chocolate consumption with insulin resistance and serum liver enzymes in a national sample of adults in Luxembourg. A random sample of 1153 individuals, aged 18-69 years, was recruited to participate in the cross-sectional Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg study. Chocolate consumption (g/d) was obtained from a semi-quantitative FFQ. Blood glucose and insulin levels were used for the homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Hepatic biomarkers such as serum γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase (γ-GT), serum aspartate transaminase and serum alanine transaminase (ALT) (mg/l) were assessed using standard laboratory assays. Chocolate consumers (81.8 %) were more likely to be younger, physically active, affluent people with higher education levels and fewer chronic co-morbidities. After excluding subjects taking antidiabetic medications, higher chocolate consumption was associated with lower HOMA-IR (β=-0.16, P=0.004), serum insulin levels (β=-0.16, P=0.003) and γ-GT (β=-0.12, P=0.009) and ALT (β=-0.09, P=0.004), after adjustment for age, sex, education, lifestyle and dietary confounding factors, including intakes of fruits and vegetables, alcohol, polyphenol-rich coffee and tea. This study reports an independent inverse relationship between daily chocolate consumption and levels of insulin, HOMA-IR and liver enzymes in adults, suggesting that chocolate consumption may improve liver enzymes and protect against insulin resistance, a well-established risk factor for cardiometabolic disorders. Further observational prospective research and well-designed randomised-controlled studies are needed to confirm this cross-sectional relationship and to comprehend the role and mechanisms that different types of chocolate may play in insulin resistance and cardiometabolic disorders.
KW - Insulin resistance: Liver enzymes: Chocolate consumption
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84961226925&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26983749
U2 - 10.1017/S0007114516000702
DO - 10.1017/S0007114516000702
M3 - Article
C2 - 26983749
AN - SCOPUS:84961226925
SN - 0007-1145
VL - 115
SP - 1661
EP - 1668
JO - British Journal of Nutrition
JF - British Journal of Nutrition
IS - 9
ER -