Prevention Effects of Cacao Polyphenols on Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

Cacao beans contain abundant polyphenols such as catechins and their polymers procyanidins. Intake of cacao product in particular dark chocolate has various health promotion effects including prevention of lifestyle diseases. We here show that prevention effects of cacao polyphenols on hyperglycemia and adiposity: Cacao polyphenols promote translocation of glucose transporter 4 to the plasma membrane of muscle cells accompanied by phosphorylation of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) and GLP-1 secretion; and they increase energy expenditure-related factors such as uncoupling proteins and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 trough phosphorylation of AMPK.