Effects of Acute Intake of Flavanols on Cerebral Oxygenation and Cognition in Young Male Adults

University of Birmingham

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: High-flavanol cocoa powder; Dietary Supplement: Low-flavanol cocoa powder

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04374409

ERN_17_1591

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study evaluates the impact of one acute dose of cocoa flavanols on brain oxygenation during a hypercapnia challenge, as well as impact on cognitive performance in young healthy males. It further assesses the impact of flavanols on peripheral vascular function, as measured by brachial Flow-mediated dilation (FMD). All participants received a high-flavanol cocoa intervention (185.5 mg of flavanols (-)-epicatechin and (+)- catechin) and a low-flavanol cocoa intervention (< 4 mg of flavanols). It is hypothesized that the high-flavanol intervention increases cerebral oxygenation during hypercapnia and vascular function in comparison to the low-flavanol intervention.

Full description

Cocoa flavanols have been shown to be protective against vascular disease in humans, as evidenced by improvements in peripheral endothelial function (as measured by brachial Flow-mediated dilatation, FMD). There is also emerging evidence suggesting that flavanol-rich diets protect against cognitive aging, but mechanisms remain elusive. In this study the investigators suggest that such mechanisms might be associated with benefits within the brain vasculature. The aim of the present study was therefore to determine whether intake of flavanols enhances cerebral oxygenation in frontal cortical areas of the brain during a hypercapnia challenge (which is a well-established biomarker of vascular reactivity in the brain) to a greater extent than a low-flavanol intervention in young healthy adults.

Enrollment: 18 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male
• 18-45 years old

Exclusion criteria

• smokers
• hypertensive
• with history of cerebrovascular, cardiovascular or respiratory disease
• allergies or intolerances to ingredients present in cocoa powders
• taking long-term medication (e.g., hyperlipidaemia)
• on antibiotics for the previous 3 months before enrollment
• suffering from blood-clotting disorders
• known infections at the time of the study
• on a weight-reducing regimen

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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18 participants in 2 patient groups

High-flavanol Cocoa powder

Experimental group

Description:

Dietary supplement: single serving of a high-flavanol cocoa powder containing 150 mg of (-)-epicatechin and 35.5 mg of (+)-catechin

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: High-flavanol cocoa powder

Low-flavanol Cocoa powder

Active Comparator group

Description:

Dietary supplement: single serving of a low-flavanol cocoa powder intervention containing \< 4 mg of (-)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin and matched as best as possible for macronutrients and micronutrients, such as caffeine and theobromine.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Low-flavanol cocoa powder