Role of Flavanols in Exercise and Aging

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Aging

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: High Flavanol Trial; long-term; Dietary Supplement: Low Flavanol Trial; long-term effects; Dietary Supplement: High Flavanol Trial; Dietary Supplement: Low Flavanol Trial

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01557738

2012-02-0114

Details and patient eligibility

About

It has well known that diets rich in fruits, vegetables and cocoa products are associated with positive health benefits and these positive effects have been shown to be due to compounds they contain called flavanols. Flavanols have been shown to exert their positive effects by indirectly increasing nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. NO is a potent vasodilator that is believed to play a role in increasing blood flow to active muscle during exercise. This regulatory process is impaired with healthy aging. The underlying premise to this study is that if NO bioavailability can be increased following flavanol ingestion, will there be a restoration of blood flow during exercise in older individuals? Accordingly, the first part of this research project will compare the acute vascular effects of flavanol ingestion between a young and old group. The investigators have hypothesized that both groups will show an improvement in blood flow to active muscle during exercise, though the magnitude of the change will be greater in the older group. The second part of this project will look at the effects of 4 weeks of daily flavanol ingestion in the old group. The investigators hypothesize that subjects will demonstrate an improvement in blood flow to active muscle during exercise after the 4 week intervention and that the magnitude of the change will be greater than the acute effects. Findings from this proposal will provide evidence for the efficacy of flavanols to be used (as a simple and safe lifestyle intervention) to reverse or combat impaired blood flow regulation in older individuals.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Males and Females between 18 - 30 years old
• Males and Females between 60 - 80 years old

Exclusion criteria

• cardiovascular and/or microvascular disease
• blood clotting disorder
• pregnant lady
• current smoker (or regularly smoked within last year)
• a history of an adverse reaction to cold
• taking medications known to effect the autonomic nervous system

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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20 participants in 4 patient groups, including a placebo group

Acute effects of flavanol consumption

Experimental group

Description:

The outcome measurements will be made on all study participants before and 2 hours after consumption of the high flavanol beverage.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: High Flavanol Trial

Low Flavanol Trial; acute effects

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Once again, the outcome measurements will be made on all study participants before and 2 hours after consumption of the low flavanol beverage.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Low Flavanol Trial

Long-term effects of flavanol consumption

Experimental group

Description:

Only those study participants over 60 years of age will continue with this arm of the trial. The same outcome measures will be performed following 4 weeks of daily consumption of a high flavanol beverage.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: High Flavanol Trial; long-term

Low Flavanol Trial; long-term effects

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Only those study participants over 60 years of age will continue with this arm of the trial. The same outcome measures will be performed following 4 weeks of daily consumption of a low flavanol beverage.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Low Flavanol Trial; long-term effects