Effects of Cocoa Intake on Blood Pressure in Elderly Individuals With Mild Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria: * Subjects between the ages of 55 - 75 years in good general health with high normal blood pressure (between 130/80 and 140/90 mmHg) or mild hypertension (blood pressure between 140/90 and 160/100 mmHg)on no medication or nutritional supplements * Non-manual workers with a household income \> 20,000 €/year * Normal plasma lipids (total plasma cholesterol \< 6.18 mmol/L * LDL \< 4.11 mmol/L * HDL \> 0.9 mmol/L * Triacylglycerols \< 1.8 mmol/L) and normal plasma glucose (fasting plasma glucose 4.2-6.4 mmol/L). * If a subject's blood pressure exceeds 170/100 mmHg on a single visit, the subject will be withdrawn from the study and referred to appropriate antihypertensive therapy. Exclusion Criteria: Subjects are excluded if they have: * Cardiovascular diseases (other than hypertension) * Diabetes mellitus * Hyper-/dyslipidemia * Gastrointestinal diseases * Hepatic and renal disorders * Pulmonary diseases * Coagulopathy * Cancer * Psychiatric disorders * Alcohol or drug dependence * Seizure disorders * History of organ transplantation * Surgery within the last 12 months * Positive tests for HIV, hepatitis B or C. Subjects are excluded if they have: * A body-mass index of more than 27.5 or less than 18.5 kg/m2 * Actively smoked tobacco within the last five years * Regularly use medications * Used any medication within the last two weeks before entry * Use vitamin, mineral or polyphenol supplements or functional food. Subjects will be excluded if they are unable to give informed consent for all procedures; or subjects who are not capable or willing to appear for controlling visits.