Journals Watch: Stroke, smoking and asthma

In-depth analysis of the latest research, compiled by Mark Greener

Chocolate counters strokes

Neurology (2012) 79:1223-1229

Eating 'moderate' amounts of chocolate may lower stroke risk, according to a study that followed 37,103 Swedish men for an average of 10.2 years. Men in the highest of four groups (quartiles) of chocolate consumption (median 62.9g a week) were 17 per cent less likely to suffer a stroke than those in the lowest quartile (median 0g weekly), equivalent to 12 fewer strokes per 100,000 person-years. Chocolate's benefits were consistent across stroke subtypes. A meta-analysis that included these findings and four previous trials compared stroke frequency in the groups with the highest and lowest chocolate consumption in each study.