Conclusion : Cocoa/DC supplementation does not reduce anthropometric measures significantly .
However subgroup analysis regarding dose ( ≥ 30 g/day ) and duration ( between 4 to 8 weeks ) revealed significant reduction of body weight and BMI
ABSTRACT Background : Cocoa and dark chocolate ( DC ) have been reported to be effective for health promotion ; however the exact effect of cocoa/DC on anthropometric measures have not been yet defined .
Effect of cocoa and theobromine consumption on serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND Evidence from clinical studies has suggested that cocoa may increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentrations . However , it is unclear whether this effect is attributable to flavonoids or theobromine , both of which are major cocoa components . OBJECTIVES We investigated whether pure theobromine increases serum HDL cholesterol and whether there is an interaction effect between theobromine and cocoa . DESIGN The study had a 2-center , double-blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled , full factorial parallel design . After a 2-wk run-in period , 152 healthy men and women ( aged 40 - 70 y ) were r and omly allocated to consume one 200-mL drink/d for 4 wk that contained 1 ) cocoa , which naturally provided 150 mg theobromine and 325 mg flavonoids [ cocoa intervention ( CC ) ] , 2 ) 850 mg pure theobromine [ theobromine intervention ( TB ) ] , 3 ) cocoa and added theobromine , which provided 1000 mg theobromine and 325 mg flavonoids [ theobromine and cocoa intervention ( TB+CC ) ] , or 4 ) neither cocoa nor theobromine ( placebo ) . Blood lipids and apolipoproteins were measured at the start and end of interventions . RESULTS In a 2-factor analysis , there was a significant main effect of the TB ( P < 0.0001 ) but not CC ( P = 0.1288 ) on HDL cholesterol but no significant interaction ( P = 0.3735 ) . The TB increased HDL-cholesterol concentrations by 0.16 mmol/L ( P < 0.0001 ) . Furthermore , there was a significant main effect of the TB on increasing apolipoprotein A-I ( P < 0.0001 ) and decreasing apolipoprotein B and LDL-cholesterol concentrations ( P < 0.02 ) . CONCLUSIONS Theobromine independently increased serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations by 0.16 mmol/L. The lack of significant cocoa and interaction effects suggested that theobromine may be the main ingredient responsible for the HDL cholesterol-raising effect . This trial was registered at clinical trials.gov as NCT01481389
Conclusion : Cocoa/DC supplementation does not reduce anthropometric measures significantly .
However subgroup analysis regarding dose ( ≥ 30 g/day ) and duration ( between 4 to 8 weeks ) revealed significant reduction of body weight and BMI
ABSTRACT Background : Cocoa and dark chocolate ( DC ) have been reported to be effective for health promotion ; however the exact effect of cocoa/DC on anthropometric measures have not been yet defined .