Cocoa Flavanols in Renal Disease

The Impact of Dietary Flavanols on Cardiovascular Dysfunction in End-stage Renal Disease

Purpose of the study is to characterize the potential acute and long-term improvement of dietary flavanols on vascular function in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Patients will twice daily receive either a flavanol-poor or a flavanol-rich drink. In a double blind, placebo-controlled crossover study the safety, efficacy and acute beneficial effects of flavanol ingestion will be assessed in 10 patients with ESRD. In a 30 day long-term, double blind, placebo-controlled parallel study the chronic effects of dietary flavanols on vascular function in 52 patients with ESRD will be evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• end stage renal disease
• >18 years
• chronic intermittent hemodialysis

Exclusion Criteria:

• acute Infection
• acute renal failure
• heart failure (NYHA IV)
• pregnancy
• anuria