Evidence map›Paper›PMID 21470061›Full record

ReviewAntioxidants & redox signaling2011

Cocoa and chocolate in human health and disease.

David L Katz, Kim Doughty, Ather Ali

Open access · greenAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Antioxidants & redox signaling, 2011. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 145 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
145citing papers in PubMed, 7 pooled it
9.0field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

145 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 418 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Response of VOPhysiological reports · 2025
    Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Pooled it
  8. A Combination ofInternational journal of medical sciences · 2025
    Trial
  9. Trial
  10. Trial
  11. Trial
  12. Trial
  13. Trial
  14. Trial
  15. Trial
  16. Trial
  17. Trial
  18. Trial
  19. Article
  20. Article

85 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

David L KatzYale University Prevention Research Center, Griffin Hospital, Derby, Connecticut 06418, USA. david.katz@yale.edu
Kim Doughty
Ather Ali
Griffin Hospital · USYale Griffin Prevention Research Center · US

Funding

Meeting Community Needs Across the Prevention SpectrumU48DP000053 · DP · YALE UNIVERSITY · PI CLEARY, PAUL D · 2004 to 2008
$2.2M
NCCDPHP CDC HHS U48 DP000053NCCIH NIH HHS L30 AT004887
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cocoa contains more phenolic antioxidants than most foods. Flavonoids, including catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidins predominate in antioxidant activity. The tricyclic structure of the flavonoids determines antioxidant effects that scavenge reactive oxygen species, chelate Fe2+ and Cu+, inhibit enzymes, and upregulate antioxidant defenses. The epicatechin content of cocoa is primarily responsible for its favorable impact on vascular endothelium via its effect on both acute and chronic upregulation of nitric oxide production. Other cardiovascular effects are mediated through anti-inflammatory effects of cocoa polyphenols, and modulated through the activity of NF-κB. Antioxidant effects of cocoa may directly influence insulin resistance and, in turn, reduce risk for diabetes. Further, cocoa consumption may stimulate changes in redox-sensitive signaling pathways involved in gene expression and the immune response. Cocoa can protect nerves from injury and inflammation, protect the skin from oxidative damage from UV radiation in topical preparations, and have beneficial effects on satiety, cognitive function, and mood. As cocoa is predominantly consumed as energy-dense chocolate, potential detrimental effects of overconsumption exist, including increased risk of weight gain. Overall, research to date suggests that the benefits of moderate cocoa or dark chocolate consumption likely outweigh the risks.

Indexed as

CacaoAntioxidantsDiseaseHumansReference ValuesAntioxidants

Identifiers

PMID21470061
PMCPMC4696435
OpenAlexW1974650394

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.