Information in this section pertains to all global PEN® partners except where country flags are
visible. Click on the flag(s) for country-specific information. If a country flag is not listed, there is
no information specific to that country.
Importance of Topic to Practice
The use of chocolate as a medicinal remedy dates back at least 3,000 years with the epicatechin, a flavanol found in cacao, likely the main reason for any health benefit (1).
Epidemiological and clinical studies report dark chocolate to have a beneficial effect on blood lipids, inflammation and blood pressure (1). While the body of evidence in this topic is increasing, to date there are no long-term randomized controlled trials of chocolate to