Comparison of Pure Epicatechin and Cocoa on Markers of Vascular Function

Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 40 and 80 years, * BMI between \> 20 and ≤ 30 * No reported current or previous metabolic diseases, * No history of cardiovascular diseases, * No history of renal, liver or thyroid diseases, * No history of gastrointestinal diseases, * No diagnosed diabetes mellitus, * Fasting laboratory parameters within normal range as judged by the study physician: renal function (serum creatinine, ureum), liver function (ALAT, ASAT, GGT), serum glucose and HDL, LDL and total cholesterol. Exclusion Criteria: * Body mass index \>30 or ≤20 kg/m2 * Usage of CVD medication (e.g. anti-hypertensive and/or lipid-modifying medication, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetylsalicylic acid), antibiotics, corticosteroids or opioids and not able or willing to stop taking them from at least 4 weeks prior to the study * Taking nutritional supplements and unwilling to discontinue * Reported dietary habits: medically prescribed diet, slimming diet * Reported average alcohol consumption greater than or equal to 3 glasses/d * Reported intense sporting activities \> 10 h/w * Weight loss or weight gain of 5 kg or more during the last 2 months * Smokers * Vegetarians * Problems with consuming the supplements or following the study guidelines * Recent blood donation (i.e. 1 month) prior to the study and/or planned donation during and shortly after the study period * Not agreeing to be informed about unexpected and medically relevant personal test-results, or not agreeing that their general practitioner will be informed about these results * Participation in another biomedical trial less than 2 months before the start of the study or at the same time * No signed informed consent form * Unable to comply with the study procedure (e.g. holidays, urine collection, blood sampling)