Yes, dark chocolate may actually serve a health benefit.  A study by Italian researchers seem to show that dark chocolate is beneficial for cardiovascular health.

Consumption of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate may protect DNA from oxidative damage, preventing artery hardening and heart disease, says this study.

Writing in the British Journal of Nutrition, Italian researchers report that consumption of dark chocolate containing 860 milligrams of polyphenols, and 58 milligrams of epicatechin, led to a 20 per cent reduction in DNA damage two hours after consumption.

The study adds to an ever growing body of science supporting the cardiovascular benefits of polyphenol-rich chocolate.

Led by researchers from the University of Milan, the scientists assigned 20 healthy subjects (average age of 24.2) to consume a balanced diet for four weeks. After two weeks the group was split in two, with one group receiving additional dark chocolate, while the other receiving white chocolate.

Measurements taken at regular intervals after consumption showed that the benefits were observed relatively quickly, with increases in blood levels of the polyphenol known as catechin observed two hours after consumption of the dark chocolate, with coincidental decreases in DNA damage in mononuclear blood cells.

“Similar epicatechin plasma levels at two hours following consumption of dark chocolate on the first and last occasions are not associated with a long-term increase in epicatechin plasma concentrations, and suggest that flavonoid plasma levels are dependent upon intake from recent food sources,” explained the researchers.

“The present results are clinically encouraging especially in the field of the diet therapy of obesity, pathology related to greater incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer,” they wrote.

“In fact, dark chocolate, habitually excluded by hypoenergetic diets for its high-fat and energy content, is a sweet food that should be reconsidered: if included in controlled amounts, in a weight loss programme it could have healthy effects, and could improve the compliance of patients to diet therapy,” added the research team.

Source: British Journal of Nutrition Published online – “Effect of dark chocolate on plasma epicatechin levels DNA resistance to oxidative stress and total antioxidant activity in healthy subjects“