The short-term effect of dark chocolate flavanols on cognition in older adults: A randomized controlled trial (FlaSeCo).
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether cocoa flavanols in dark chocolate improve cognitive functions, blood lipids, and glucose metabolism in cognitively healthy older adults.
Results Summary
The study found no significant differences in cognitive function, blood lipids, glucose levels, or body weight between the intervention group (higher flavanol intake) and the control group (lower flavanol intake) after eight weeks.
Population
Cognitively healthy older adults aged 65-75 years, highly educated (mean 14.9 years of education).
Effective Dosage
50 g dark chocolate per day (intervention group: 410 mg flavanols; control group: 86 mg flavanols).
Duration
8 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
cocoa flavanols in the diet | increase | cognition, blood lipid levels, and glucose metabolism | - | - | had positive effects | #1 |
cocoa flavanols | no change | cognition | cognitively healthy older adults aged 65-75 years | - | no differences in changes | #2 |
50 g dark chocolate containing 410 mg of flavanols per day | decrease | time to complete the TMT A | intervention group | -4.6 s (-7.1 to -2.1) | mean change | #3 |
50 g dark chocolate containing 410 mg of flavanols per day | decrease | time to complete the TMT B | intervention group | -16.1 s (-29.1 to -3.1) | mean change | #4 |
50 g dark chocolate containing 86 mg of flavanols per day | decrease | time to complete the TMT A | controls | -4.4 s (-7.0 to -1.9) | mean change | #5 |
50 g dark chocolate containing 86 mg of flavanols per day | decrease | time to complete the TMT B | controls | -12.5 s (-22.8 to -2.1) | mean change | #6 |
dark chocolate flavanols | no change | blood lipids, glucose levels, or body weight | - | - | no difference was apparent in the changes | #7 |
eight-week intake of dark chocolate flavanols | no change | cognition | healthy older adults | - | showed no effect | #8 |
BACKGROUND: Cocoa flavanols in the diet have had positive effects on cognition, blood lipid levels, and glucose metabolism. METHODS: Cognitively healthy older adults aged 65-75 years were recruited for an eight-week randomized, double-blind controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of cocoa flavanols on cognitive functions. At baseline, nutrient and polyphenol intakes from diet were assessed with three-day food diaries. The intervention group received 50 g dark chocolate containing 410 mg of flavanols per day, and the control group 50 g dark chocolate containing 86 mg of flavanols per day, for eight weeks. Cognition was assessed with Verbal Fluency (VF) and the Trail Making Test (TMT) A and B as the main outcome measures. Changes in blood lipids and glucose were also measured. RESULTS: The older adults participating numbered 100 (63% women), mean 69 y (range 65 to 74). They were highly educated with a mean 14.9 years of education (SD 3.6). No differences in changes in cognition were seen between groups. The mean change (± SEs) in the time to complete the TMT A and B in the intervention group was -4.6 s (-7.1 to -2.1) and -16.1 s (-29.1 to -3.1), and in the controls -4.4 s (-7.0 to -1.9) and -12.5 s (-22.8 to -2.1)(TMT A p = 0.93; TMT B p = 0.66). No difference was apparent in the changes in blood lipids, glucose levels, or body weight between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The healthy older adults showed no effect from the eight-week intake of dark chocolate flavanols on cognition.