Does Dark Chocolate Raise Triglycerides?

Although you probably know that you should monitor your cholesterol levels, you may not realize that your triglyceride levels are equally important. Higher amounts of triglycerides have been implicated in chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which are often caused by eating unhealthy foods. Research is showing that dark chocolate may be beneficial for triglyceride levels, although other studies show negative results.

Identification

Triglycerides are a form of lipids, or fat, in your blood that are produced in the liver. They don't dissolve in blood, however, so they circulate throughout your body with the help of proteins called lipoproteins. When you eat more calories than you need, the excess is converted into triglycerides and stored in your fat cells. Some of these stored triglycerides are released between meals for energy, but if there are too many triglycerides to be used up, they can build up to unhealthy levels. The American Heart Association recommends that you aim for a level that is 100 mg/dL or lower.

Chocolate Benefits

Chocolate contains antioxidants called polyphenols that help fight the cell damage caused by free radicals in your body. According to a study published in 2006 in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry," chocolate is the third highest per capita antioxidant source in the American diet. The study also showed that dark chocolate and cocoa, when consumed at a human dose equivalent of two bars per day, significantly inhibited triglycerides and improved cholesterol levels in the lab. Findings published in "Nutrition Research" from a study in 2006 showed that women given dark chocolate over a six-week period had reductions in triglycerides of 21 percent.

No Effects

Researchers at the USDA's Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University gave subjects with untreated high blood pressure a 3.5-oz. bar of dark chocolate for seven days. The results, published in "Hypertension" in 2005, showed total cholesterol values were improved, but there was no change in triglyceride levels. A team of Harvard researchers conducted an analysis of 21 studies involving 2,575 participants enrolled in various trials, and they presented their results at a conference of the American Heart Association in March 2011. The studies showed chocolate improved blood pressure, cholesterol and other health markers, but it did not have an effect on triglycerides. A separate meta-analysis looking at clinical trials between 1996 and 2010 published similar results in May 2011 in the "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition."

Negative Effects

Although chocolate hasn't been linked directly to a rise in triglycericde levels, consuming foods high in simple sugars, saturated fat and trans fats contributes to high triglycerides. A report in a 2008 issue of "Endocrinology & Metabolism Clinics of North America" stated that fats, including palm, palm kernel and coconut oil, are strongly linked to elevated triglyceride levels and deaths from cardiovascular disease. Many chocolate bars contain these unhealthy fats, and they may also be high in calories. Obesity is a major cause of high triglycerides, and MayoClinic.com notes that losing just five to 10 pounds and avoiding sugary foods can help lower your triglyceride levels.