The Acute Effects of Cocoa Flavanols Intake on Overt and Covert Attention

Konya Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy Young Adults

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Flavanol; Dietary Supplement: Placebo; Other: Sugar water

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06812689

122K636

Details and patient eligibility

About

The present study aimed to examine whether a cocoa beverage containing 710 mg of flavanols enhances both overt and covert attention in healthy young adults, using a randomized, double-blind, baseline- and placebo-controlled crossover design.

Full description

Cocoa flavanols (CF) have various physiological effects that may directly or indirectly enhance cognitive functions. Following CF intake, a series of biochemical processes within vascular smooth muscle cells lead to the relaxation of smooth muscles, the dilation of blood vessels, and an increase in cerebral blood flow. For the brain to function optimally, cerebral blood flow must be maintained at a level that ensures a constant supply of oxygen and glucose to neurons. During periods of intense neuronal activity, neurons require more oxygen and nutrients, which is met by an increase in blood flow. Given that CF has been shown to enhance blood flow and perfusion in brain regions associated with attention (e.g., the parietal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), it was hypothesized that CF intake could acutely improve both overt and covert attention.

Enrollment: 48 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity

Exclusion criteria

• History of neurological, psychiatric, cardiovascular or metabolic disorders
• Following a medically restricted diet
• Taking antidepressant, anxiolytic, and antipsychotic drugs in the past three months
• Currently taking anticoagulant
• Taking herbal supplements in the past week
• Allergic or intolerant to cocoa, caffeine, sucrose, or fructose
• Color blindness

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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48 participants in 6 patient groups

Baseline/Placebo/Flavanol

Experimental group

Description:

Participants consumed sugar water, an alkalized cocoa beverage, and a natural cocoa beverage containing 710 mg of flavanols, with a one-week washout period between interventions.

Treatment:

Other: Sugar water

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Dietary Supplement: Flavanol

Baseline/Flavanol/Placebo

Experimental group

Description:

Participants consumed sugar water, a natural cocoa beverage containing 710 mg of flavanols, and an alkalized cocoa beverage, with a one-week washout period between interventions.

Treatment:

Other: Sugar water

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Dietary Supplement: Flavanol

Placebo/Baseline/Flavanol

Experimental group

Description:

Participants consumed an alkalized cocoa beverage, sugar water, and a natural cocoa beverage containing 710 mg of flavanols, with a one-week washout period between interventions.

Treatment:

Other: Sugar water

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Dietary Supplement: Flavanol

Placebo/Flavanol/Baseline

Experimental group

Description:

Participants consumed an alkalized cocoa beverage, a natural cocoa beverage containing 710 mg of flavanols, and sugar water, with a one-week washout period between interventions.

Treatment:

Other: Sugar water

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Dietary Supplement: Flavanol

Flavanol/Baseline/Placebo

Experimental group

Description:

Participants consumed a natural cocoa beverage containing 710 mg of flavanols, sugar water, and an alkalized cocoa beverage, with a one-week washout period between interventions.

Treatment:

Other: Sugar water

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Dietary Supplement: Flavanol

Flavanol/Placebo/Baseline

Experimental group

Description:

Participants consumed a natural cocoa beverage containing 710 mg of flavanols, an alkalized cocoa beverage, and sugar water, with a one-week washout period between interventions.

Treatment:

Other: Sugar water

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Dietary Supplement: Flavanol