Volunteers in a study reported on Medscape were told not to do things known to slow the clotting of blood by inhibiting platelet function.

But some just couldn’t stop eating chocolate.

When their noncompliance was discovered, the volunteers were taken out of the study, but tests of their ability to clot were still done.

It turns out that clotting time was delayed in this group, although it was still within the normal range.

Dr. Elliott Antman from Harvard University said, “It might help explain the tremendous variability among patients to platelet inhibition, particularly as seen in response to aspirin.”

Do you like chocolate? It’s one more thing to tell your doctor.

The study was presented during the American Heart Association meeting this year (abstract 4101).

Illustration: WineZap

11/29/06 20:41