The Effects of Dark Chocolate (70% Cacao) on EEG Brain Waves in Vigorously Active Individuals

Loma Linda University (LLU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: dark chocolate; Other: non dark chocolate

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03203824

5170184

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this graduate student study is to determine if ingestion of dark chocolate (70% cacao) will change brain frequencies between visualization at a state of rest and a state of exercise performance via electroencephalography (EEG) in vigorously active individuals.

Full description

The procedures include: On day one, participants will fill out a dark chocolate Likert scale, physical activity assessment, and demographic questionnaire. Day two and three, on consecutive days will include, three EEG measurements will be recorded: 1) at baseline, 2) during visualization of rest for one minute, and 3) during visualization of usual vigorous exercise for one minute. The second day all three measurements will be recorded without dark chocolate (70% cacao). The third day all three measurements will be recorded again. Measurements 2 and 3 will be recorded savoring dark chocolate and after fully ingesting the dark chocolate respectively.

Enrollment: 10 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 21-45 years of age
• vigorously active individuals, based on the General Physical Activities defined by Level of Intensity guidelines, greater than 75 minutes per week
• enjoy dark chocolate

Exclusion criteria

• Caffeine, sedatives, or tranquilizers within 12 hours of study
• Creatine or other performance enhancing steroid supplementation within 24 hours of study
• Ginseng supplementation within 24 hours of study
• Barbiturates within at least 36 hours of study
• Currently taking antiepileptic medications
• Any allergies, colds or sinus infections day of the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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10 participants in 2 patient groups

dark chocolate

Experimental group

Description:

Three EEG measurements will be recorded: 1) at baseline, 2) during visualization of rest for one minute, and 3) during visualization of usual vigorous exercise for one minute. Measurements 2 and 3 will be recorded savoring dark chocolate and after fully ingesting the dark chocolate respectively.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: dark chocolate

non dark chocolate

Active Comparator group

Description:

three EEG measurements will be recorded: 1) at baseline, 2) during visualization of rest for one minute, and 3) during visualization of usual vigorous exercise for one minute.

Treatment:

Other: non dark chocolate