New vitamin? -- epicatechin

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March 12, 2007

A new vitamin?

 

The March 12, 2007 issue of Chemistry & Industry, published an article

by Marina Murphy that unveils glowing expectations for epicatechin, a

compound found in cocoa, tea and wine. In fact, Harvard Medical School

professor of medicine Norman Hollenberg believes that the compound is so

important that it should be considered a vitamin.

 

Dr Hollenberg's observations of the Kuna people of Panama, who drink up

to 40 cups of cocoa per week, are the source of his enthusiasm. The risk

of the some of the most common western diseases: stroke, heart failure,

cancer and diabetes, is reduced to less than 10 percent in this

population. Additionally, no dementia has been observed among their many

long-lived individuals. " If these observations predict the future, then

we can say without blushing that they are among the most important

observations in the history of medicine, " Dr Hollenberg stated. " We all

agree that penicillin and anesthesia are enormously important. But

epicatechin could potentially get rid of 4 of the 5 most common diseases

in the western world, how important does that make epicatechin?... I

would say very important. "

 

Natural Products Association vice president of scientific affairs Daniel

Fabricant shares Dr Hollenberg's views. " Vitamins are defined as being

essential to the normal functioning, metabolism, regulation and growth

of cells, " he explained. " At the moment, the science does not support

epicatechin having an essential role. " However, he noted that " the link

between high epicatechin consumption and a decreased risk of killer

disease is so striking, it should be investigated further. It may be

that these diseases are the result of epicatechin deficiency. "

 

For now, Fabricant suggests that phytonutrient is a more appropriate

term since it is not yet known whether the compound is essential.

While many individuals might look forward to a guilt-free mug of hot

chocolate, " no doubt some people would prefer to get their epicatechin

in capsule form, " Dr Hollenberg noted.

—D Dye