The University of East Anglia (UEA) and diabetes specialists at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) need to recruit new volunteers with 2 diabetes for a study into the potential health benefits of dark chocolate.
The researchers have been testing whether the chocolate’s flavonoid compounds can help reduce the risk of heart disease and have already done one study.
Volunteers for this new study must be post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes, be under 76 years of age, non-smokers and have been taking cholesterol lowering drugs for at least a year.
Participants will be required to eat a small amount of super-strength dark chocolate specially formulated by Belgian chocolatiers, every day for one year. They will have their risk of heart disease tested at regular intervals to see whether any changes have occurred.
The study is based in Norwich and travel expenses are available up to a maximum of a 60-mile round trip. People who want to take part can do so but they will still only be able to claim the same travel expenses.
‘We are now approaching a really exciting phase of the study,’ said study co-ordinator Dr Peter Curtis, of UEA’s School of Medicine.
‘Our first volunteers are about to return for their final visit to see if the markers of heart health – such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels - have changed. A successful outcome could be the first step in developing new ways to improve the lives of people at increased risk of heart disease.’
To find out more or to volunteer for the new study, please telephone 01603 597296 and ask for Suzanne or David (study nurses) or Dr Peter Curtis (study co-ordinator) or email: FLAVO@uea.ac.uk