Investigators have found that chocolate and other chocolate-based products may reduce inflammation in patients with lupus, but also stressed that the evidence supporting this claim is limited, according to an article published in Medical News Today. In a 2016 study published by Ellinger and Stehle in Nutrients, investigators examined the results of 33 studies seeking to understand the impact of chocolate-based products on inflammatory markers. They deduced that products that were high in flavanol may have been capable of decreasing monocyte and neutrophil activity, thereby reducing inflammation. Despite the results, the investigators stressed that the benefits of chocolate consumption are likely based on the products used and that those with lower cocoa and higher sugar and saturated fat contents may increase inflammation. Additionally, experts recommended that patients with lupus follow a diet high in fruits; vegetables; whole grains such as whole wheat breads, whole grain pastas, brown rice, and oatmeal; healthy proteins such as beans, eggs, nuts, lean meats, poultry, and seafood; and healthy fats such as olive oil, avocados, nuts, and oily fish—and avoid alcohol and foods high in salt, saturated fats, and added sugars. They advised that fruits and vegetables should comprise 50% of each meal. Patients were urged to visit their physicians to come up with an individualized diet plan, especially for those with lupus nephritis.
May 25, 2023