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Theobromine – The ”Hidden” in chocolate heart peacemaker

February 12, 2021Advices, Articles for nutrition, food additives, health, Healthy day

Theobromine ? The myths that sweets are above all harmful and should be severely limited and even avoided, to everyone’s delight, fall away one after another. Thus, the “problematic” chocolate turns out to have far more merits than we know. We now understand better why young children are strongly advised to drink the popular cocoa milk after sleep. One of the reasons is the presence of theobromine.

Theobromine is a type of crystalline alkaloid found in cocoa and is part of the content of our beloved chocolate. It belongs to the purine group (xanthines), which also includes compounds such as caffeine and theophylline. Despite its name, the alkaloid does not contain bromine.

The name comes from “theobroma” (a type of cocoa tree), which in turn comes from the Greek words “theo” (god) and “brosi” (food), or in other words, “food of the gods”. The suffix “yin” is given to all alkaloids or other nitrogen-containing compounds.

Theobromine is a water-insoluble powder with a bitter taste and is most commonly white. It has the effect of a coefficient, although weaker. Its chemical formula is C7H8N4O2 (dimethyl xanthine). Theobromine is an isomer of theophylline (with the same chemical composition but different spatial arrangement) as well as paraxanthine. It has a melting point of 337 ° C.

The substance was first discovered in the distant 1841 in cocoa beans by the Russian chemist Alexander Voskresensky. Theobromine was extracted from the seeds of the cocoa tree in 1878, and at a later stage was synthesized from xanthine by the German chemist Herman Emil Fischer.

Sources of theobromine

Theobromine is the first alkaloid found in cocoa and chocolate. 5 g of cocoa powder contains 108 mg (or 2.16%) of theobromine. However, there are cocoa powders with an alkaloid content of up to 500 mg (or 10%). Between 0.5 and 2.7% is the content of theobromine in chocolate. Here we exclude white, which has minimal traces of the substance. Theobromine can also be found in car seeds (1.0-2.5%), guarana beans and tea.

The plants with the highest content of theobromine are:

  • cocoa theobroma;

  • theobroma bicolor;

  • yerba mate;

  • camellia syncesis;

  • cola akuminata;

  • theobroma angustifolium;

  • guarana;

  • Arabica coffee.

Table with the concentration of theobromine in cocoa and carob products:

 


Article 		Theobromine content (mg / g)

Cocoa		 20.3
Cocoa cereals 0.695
Chocolate baked goods 1.47
Chocolate glazes 1.95
Cocoa drinks 2.66
Chocolate ice cream 0.621
Chocolate milk 0.226
Carob products 0-0.5

Therapeutic needs of theobromine

Since its discovery in the late 19th century, theobromine was introduced in 1916 after being recommended in a publication on the principles of medical treatment of edema (excessive fluid in some parts of the body), degenerative angina. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition notes that theobromine has been used to treat other problems, such as arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, angina pectoris and hypertension.

In modern medicine, theobromine is used as a vasodilator (dilates blood vessels), diuretic and heart stimulant. In the future, the alkaloid may find application in the fight against cancer. Theobromine has been used for birth defects in experiments on mice and rabbits. In rabbits, a reduction in fetal weight was observed after forced consumption. No congenital problems were found in the rats.

Pharmacology of theobromine

Even without food, theobromine can be formed in the body as it is a product of the human metabolism of caffeine, which is metabolized in the liver at a ratio of 10% theobromine, 4% theophylline and 80% paraxanthine. In turn, theobromine is metabolized to methylxanthine and then to uric acid.

Effects in humans

Although theobromine and caffeine are similar substances because they are close alkaloids, the former is lighter and has less of an effect on the human central nervous system. It is important to note, however, that theobromine stimulates the heart to a large extent. Although not addictive, it has been considered a substance addictive to chocolate.

Theobromine is also considered one of the compounds in it, which contributed to the popularity of chocolate as a solid aphrodisiac. Because theobromine is a pacemaker as a vasodilator, it follows that it speeds up the pulse and dilates blood vessels, while causing a decrease in blood pressure.

However, results from a recent report indicate that the reduction in blood pressure in question is more due to flavamol. Moreover, the squeezing effect of theobrmine allows it to be used to treat heart failure, which can be caused by excessive fluid accumulation. According to a 2004 study, the alkaloid had a stronger effect in reducing cough than codeine. Theobromine is especially useful in some diseases, such as bronchial asthma.

A study in the 1980s showed a possible link between the action of theobrmine and an increased risk of prostate cancer in older men. It has not been established whether this association is also responsible for more serious types of tumors. Other possible side effects due to theobrmine consumption may include drowsiness, tremor, anxiety, worry, and increased urine production. Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting can also be among the side effects of the human body.
 

Effects in animals

 
The amount of theobromine in chocolate is small enough that it can be consumed without problems by humans. This is not the case in some animals with a slower metabolism, such as dogs. In small specimens, ingestion of only 50 g of chocolate can lead to poisoning. In medium and larger dogs, this amount is in the order of 400 g. A similar risk exists for cats, although even if they ingest sweet foods, they do not have the appropriate receptors for this taste to sense them.
 
Complications in animals can include digestive problems, dehydration, irritability and slow heart rate. Another stage in the consumption of theobrmine in animals is the presence of epileptic seizures and death. If poisoning treatment is started early enough, the animal can be saved.
Otherwise, it is very likely to be fatal. Finally, we can safely summarize – eat foods rich in cocoa and within normal limits without worrying. What could be better than to combine the useful with the pleasant, taking the required dose of theobrmine daily in the form of sweet temptations.
 

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