The Effects of Dark Chocolate Implementation in Elite Athletes

University of Roma La Sapienza

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Activity; Athletes Heart; Oxidative Stress

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Dark Chocolate (85% cocoa); Dietary Supplement: White/Milk chocolate (<35% cocoa)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03288623

CE 4662

Details and patient eligibility

About

Dark chocolate (DC) is rich in epicatechin which augments nitric oxide (NO) production through endothelium-dependent influences. The increased bioavailability and activity of NO have been demonstrated to statistically increase flow-mediated dilation in healthy subjects and in hypertensive patients. DC supplementation has been hailed for its positive effects on cardiovascular health and it has been proposed as a booster of physical performance in athletes, however the mechanisms by which DC improves oxidative stress, vascular function and athletic performance are not fully understood. The investigators designed a human study assessing how DC improves NO bioavailability and activity in elite athletes. Twenty-four elite soccer players (aged 18-35 years old, all males) are divided in 2 groups and randomly assigned to receive DC (85% cocoa), 40g per day or white/milk chocolate (<35% cocoa) for 30 days. The primary outcome measure is the evaluation of Soluble NOX2-derived peptide (sNOX2-dp), a direct marker of NADPH oxidase activation. The secondary outcome measures are other markers of oxidative stress, as the soluble P-selectin (sPs), Vitamin E, soluble CD40 Ligand (sCD40L), a marker of in vivo platelet activation and flow-mediated dilation assessed by vascular ultrasound. All parameters are assessed at baseline and after 30 days in both groups.

Enrollment: 24 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Elite male athletes volunteers, aged between 18 and 35 years

Exclusion criteria

• they suffer from an allergy to cocoa or any of the ingredients contained within either of the chocolate bars
• they have a low platelet count (< 170 x 10E09/ L)
• they are taking aspirin or aspirin-containing drugs, other anti-inflammatory drugs, or any drugs or herbal medicines known to alter platelet function or the haemostatic system in general (without a minimum washout period of one month)
• they are taking fish oils or evening primrose oil, or fat soluble vitamin supplements within the last 4 weeks
• they have unsuitable veins for blood sampling and/ or cannulation
• they have a BMI below 18 or above 35 kg/ sqm
• they are taking any medicine known to affect lipid and/or glucose metabolism
• they are suffering from alcohol or any other substance abuse or are having eating disorders
• they have any known clinical signs of diabetes, hypertension, renal, hepatic, hematological disease, gastrointestinal disorders, endocrine disorders, coronary heart disease, infection or cance

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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24 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Dark Chocolate

Experimental group

Description:

Dark chocolate (85% cocoa) 40 mg per day for 30 days

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Dark Chocolate (85% cocoa)

White/Milk Chocolate

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

White chocolate or Milk chocolate administration in tablet (\<35% cocoa) per day for 30 days

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: White/Milk chocolate (<35% cocoa)