Grant: Operating Grant

Preeclampsia (PE), syndrome defined by gestational hypertension and proteinuria originates in the placenta and is characterized by maternal dysfunction of the endothelium, leading to the clinical symptoms of the mother. PE is one of the most common medical disorders affecting pregnancy, with potentially severe consequences for mother and child, especially in developing countries. Despite intensive research, PE remains a disease for which no effective prophylactic measures are available to patients. Recent literature confirmed that flavanol-rich chocolate has a beneficial influence on endothelial function and reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP). One study suggested that chocolate consumption during pregnancy may lower risk of PE, but effects of black chocolate among pregnant women have never been studied in a clinical design. Our hypothesis is that flavanol-rich chocolate consumption reduces the risk of PE via improvement of endothelial function in pregnant women. The primary objective of this trial is to investigate the acute and chronic effect of consumption of flavanol-rich chocolate on endothelial function in pregnant women at high risk for PE. The proposed trial is a 4-group randomized clinical trial. Non-smoking PE-high-risk women between the ages of 18 and 35 years will be eligible for participation in the study. Women wishing to participate should present themselves at the research Centre for a total of 4 visits. Acute effects of chocolate will be assessed only during the randomization visit. The sustained effect will be evaluated after 6 and 12 weeks of chocolate consumption. The study participants must consume 3 chocolate squares per day (30 g/day) for 12 weeks. If results from our clinical trial confirmed that flavanol-rich chocolate improves endothelium function in pregnant women at high-risk of PE, a larger randomized clinical trial would be implemented with clinical mother and foetal outcomes.