Chocolate may be a life saver for some women, scientists have discovered.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UAE) in Norwich want to test their theory by feeding special bars to 150 volunteers every day for a year.

They believe chocolate rich in a particular natural plant compound could help postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes ward off heart disease.

They say flavonoids – plant compounds found in cocoa and soy – have been shown to reduce heart disease risk factors.

So diet specialists have recruited a Belgian chocolatier to create bars rich in flavonoids.

The test bars will be fed to volunteers to see if they have any effect.

“There are certain things we know we must do to reduce the risk of heart disease,” said a UEA spokesman.

“Eating chocolate every day for a year is not normally one of them.”

The chocolate making process normally destroys most of the flavonoids.

So the test bars will be made by a special process to retain the chemicals, with flavonoid-rich soy also added.

The UEA said the study was being funded by research group Diabetes UK and staff from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and the Institute of Food Research would be involved.

Via news.sky.com