DHE stain of superoxide (M-R): MCS diet (M), MCD diet (N), C1 (O), C2 (P), C3 (Q), C4 (R). Bar = 100 μm. Organ weight and body weight IWR-1 animals on the MCD and C1-C4 diet regimes

had lower body weight compared to MCS animals Screening Library (Table 5 p < 0.001). Heart, kidney and pancreas weight were the same for all groups (data not shown). In contrast, liver weight represented a greater portion of body weight in the MCD and C1-C4 diet regimes compared to rats fed the MCS diet (Table 5 p < 0.001). In addition, liver weight was significantly lower in the C2 diet regime (3.7 ± 0.1%) when compared to the MCD, C3 and C4 diet regimes, 4.4 ± 0.1%, 5.2 ± 0.2% and 4.1 ± 0.1%, respectively (Table 5 p < 0.01). Average food intake over the duration of each dietary regime was in line with body weight; food intake did not differ between the cocoa regimes (Table 5). Table 5 Biochemical parameters and measures of oxidative stress   MCS MCD C1 C2 C3 C4 Food intake (g/pair/day) 24.4

± 1.6 16.4 ± 0.5 BGB324 in vitro MCS 13.4 ± 0.4 MCS 13.8 ± 0.6 MCS 12.4 ± 1.5 MCS 9.6 ± 0.5 MCS, MCD Body weight (g) 283 ± 10 185 ± 4 MCS 192 ± 3 MCS 195 ± 7 MCS 188 ± 5 MCS 184 ± 5 MCS Liver/body weight (%) 2.7 ± 0.1 4.4 ± 0.1 MCS 4.5 ± 0.3 MCS 3.7 ± 0.1 MCS, MCD 5.2 ± 0.2 MCS, C2 4.1 ± 0.1 MCS, C2 DHE (arbitrary units) 42.3 ± 2.1 71.6 ± 3.6 MCS 88.1 ± 1.0 MCS 87.9 ± 1.0 MCS 74.8 ± 3.7 MCS, C1, C2 88.8 ±

2.5 MCS, C3 Liver 8-OH-2dG (pg/ml) 192 ± 12 145 ± 5 MCS 265 ± 14 MCS, MCD 304 ± 12 MCS, MCD 205 ± 8 MCD, C1, C2 172 ± 7 C1, C2 Liver 8-isoprostane (pg/mg protein) 110 ± 12 155 ± 7 MCS 137 ± 9 163 ± 12 MCS 121 ± 5 MCD, C2 157 ± 7 Liver GSH (mg) 495 ± 64 1090 ± 156 MCS 120 ± 8 MCD 127 ± 9 MCD 106 ± 10 MCD 142 ± 6 MCD, C1, C3 RBC GSH (mg) 144 ± 8 177 ± 7 MCS 359 ± 26 MCS, MCD 432 ± 70 MCS, MCD 193 ± 15 MCS, C1, C2 120 ± 7 C1, C2 Glucose (mmol/L) 9.1 ± 0.4 6.8 ± 0.1 MCS 6.5 Rho ± 0.2 MCS 6.0 ± 0.2 MCS 7.7 ± 0.1 MCS, C1, C2 6.6 ± 0.4 MCS Triglycerides (mmol/L) 1.25 ± 0.05 0.99 ± 0.04 MCS 0.70 ± 0.02 MCD 0.66 ± 0.01 MCD, C1 0.71 ± 0.03 MCD 0.72 ± 0.01 MCD Values are presented as mean ± SEM. Groups that are significantly different are listed below values, p < 0.05. Biochemical parameters Circulating triglyceride levels were lower following consumption of the MCD diet when compared to the MCS diet (Table 5 p < 0.001). This lower level was enhanced by the administration of cocoa supplement, resulting in a lower level of circulating triglycerides when compared to the MCD diet (Table 5 p < 0.01).