Objective: To establish the anti-platelet or aspirin like effects of flavonoid rich food (chocolate).
Methods: This was a non-randomized quasi experimental study in which, 65 healthy adult volunteers, 27 males and 38 females, participated. The subjects included were healthy, non-smoking adults. Health of subjects was evaluated by a questionnaire for which a written informed consent was taken prior to admission in the study. Research protocol was approved by the college's, "Research and Ethical committee". Division of subjects into two groups, a control group which consumed 100 mgs of oral aspirin and an interventional group consuming 100 mgs oral aspirin and 18.75 gms of dark chocolate (flavonoid rich), was carried out. The Bleeding time estimation for both the groups was done by "Duke Method" of bleeding time estimation.
Results: Data was analyzed by SPSS 15.0. First, a bivariate analysis was done by comparing both the pre-test groups i.e. before consumption of aspirin and also before consumption of chocolate and aspirin together through independent t-test Later, regression analysis was also done. Bivariate analysis compared both the control and interventional groups. After comparing pre-test groups a p-value of 0.798 was obtained and after comparing post test groups a p-value of 0.006 was determined. Regression analysis yeilded an R-square of 0.25.
Conclusion: Chocolate has a significant role in augmenting the anti-platelet effects of aspirin.