2025-12-16
Dark chocolate: guilty pleasure or a renal ally?
General Medicine Nephrology
By Ana Espino | Published on December 12, 2025 | 3 min read
Controlling blood pressure and renal perfusion is essential in nephrology, since these two parameters play a key role in preventing cardiovascular and kidney disease. Good blood flow to the kidneys helps preserve their function, whereas high or poorly regulated blood pressure can accelerate renal deterioration. Improving renal vasodilation could therefore be an interesting therapeutic lever, particularly in at-risk patients.
In this context, certain natural substances such as flavonoids—found notably in dark chocolate—have generated growing interest. Dark chocolate, rich in polyphenols and especially flavanols, has already shown blood-pressure–lowering, systemic vasodilatory, and antioxidant effects in several clinical studies. However, its specific effects on renal hemodynamics remain poorly understood. Few studies have used objective markers such as the renal resistive index (RRI) to assess its direct impact on intrarenal arteries.
The lack of consolidated data on these parameters currently prevents dark chocolate from being considered as an adjunct tool in the management or prevention of renal or cardiovascular disease. It is within this framework that this study was initiated, with the aim of evaluating the acute effect of dark chocolate on blood pressure and renal vascularization.
In this study, 17 healthy volunteers were included in a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Each participant consumed, on two separate occasions, 1 g/kg of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) or white chocolate. Hemodynamic measurements were performed using renal Doppler ultrasound before and two hours after ingestion. The renal resistive index (RRI), blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output were assessed both at rest and during a 3-minute isometric exercise (handgrip) designed to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system.
The results show a significant decrease in RRI after ingestion of dark chocolate (from 0.62 to 0.60; p = 0.039), reflecting intrarenal vasodilation—an effect not observed with white chocolate. The handgrip test markedly reduced RRI (p = 0.001), but this effect was attenuated in participants aged ≥35 years after consuming dark chocolate. In people who did not habitually consume chocolate, an acute increase in blood pressure was observed, whereas regular consumers did not show this reaction.
Renal perfusion dysfunction and blood pressure control are major issues in nephrology, particularly given their link to cardiovascular risk. In this context, growing interest in nutritional approaches—such as the use of natural compounds with vascular potential—raises new questions.
Dark chocolate, rich in flavonoids, has already shown general vasodilatory effects, but its specific impact on renal hemodynamics had been little studied. This study aimed to evaluate the acute effect of dark chocolate on renal vascularization and blood pressure, compared with white chocolate, using Doppler markers such as RRI.
The results suggest a modest but significant renal vasodilation in healthy subjects, opening new avenues for kidney prevention. However, limitations remain and justify further research. Future work should include larger clinical trials in at-risk populations (patients with hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease), with longer follow-up and standardized doses. Better distinction between the effects of chocolate as a food and those of isolated flavonoids will also be necessary, along with a detailed assessment of long-term metabolic tolerance.
About the author – Ana Espino
As a scientific writer, Ana is passionate about bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. With expertise in immunology, virology, oncology, and clinical studies, she makes complex science clear and accessible. Her mission: to accelerate knowledge sharing and empower evidence-based decisions through impactful communication.
Controlling blood pressure and renal perfusion is essential in nephrology, since these two parameters play a key role in preventing cardiovascular and kidney disease. Good blood flow to the kidneys helps preserve their function, whereas high or poorly regulated blood pressure can accelerate renal deterioration. Improving renal vasodilation could therefore be an interesting therapeutic lever, particularly in at-risk patients.
In this context, certain natural substances such as flavonoids—found notably in dark chocolate—have generated growing interest. Dark chocolate, rich in polyphenols and especially flavanols, has already shown blood-pressure–lowering, systemic vasodilatory, and antioxidant effects in several clinical studies. However, its specific effects on renal hemodynamics remain poorly understood. Few studies have used objective markers such as the renal resistive index (RRI) to assess its direct impact on intrarenal arteries.
The lack of consolidated data on these parameters currently prevents dark chocolate from being considered as an adjunct tool in the management or prevention of renal or cardiovascular disease. It is within this framework that this study was initiated, with the aim of evaluating the acute effect of dark chocolate on blood pressure and renal vascularization.
Can a square of chocolate improve renal blood flow?
In this study, 17 healthy volunteers were included in a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Each participant consumed, on two separate occasions, 1 g/kg of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) or white chocolate. Hemodynamic measurements were performed using renal Doppler ultrasound before and two hours after ingestion. The renal resistive index (RRI), blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output were assessed both at rest and during a 3-minute isometric exercise (handgrip) designed to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system.
The results show a significant decrease in RRI after ingestion of dark chocolate (from 0.62 to 0.60; p = 0.039), reflecting intrarenal vasodilation—an effect not observed with white chocolate. The handgrip test markedly reduced RRI (p = 0.001), but this effect was attenuated in participants aged ≥35 years after consuming dark chocolate. In people who did not habitually consume chocolate, an acute increase in blood pressure was observed, whereas regular consumers did not show this reaction.
Cocoa for the kidneys: genuine promise or just hype?
Renal perfusion dysfunction and blood pressure control are major issues in nephrology, particularly given their link to cardiovascular risk. In this context, growing interest in nutritional approaches—such as the use of natural compounds with vascular potential—raises new questions.
Dark chocolate, rich in flavonoids, has already shown general vasodilatory effects, but its specific impact on renal hemodynamics had been little studied. This study aimed to evaluate the acute effect of dark chocolate on renal vascularization and blood pressure, compared with white chocolate, using Doppler markers such as RRI.
The results suggest a modest but significant renal vasodilation in healthy subjects, opening new avenues for kidney prevention. However, limitations remain and justify further research. Future work should include larger clinical trials in at-risk populations (patients with hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease), with longer follow-up and standardized doses. Better distinction between the effects of chocolate as a food and those of isolated flavonoids will also be necessary, along with a detailed assessment of long-term metabolic tolerance.
Read next: Can cocoa help preserve memory in older adults?
About the author – Ana Espino
PhD in Immunology, specialized in Virology
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