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 .
Effects of regularly consuming dietary fibre rich soluble cocoa products on bowel habits in healthy subjects: a free-living, two-stage, randomized, crossover, single-blind intervention
Background Dietary fibre is both preventive and therapeutic for bowel functional diseases .  Soluble cocoa products are good sources of dietary fibre that may be supplemented with this dietary component . This study assessed the effects of regularly consuming two soluble cocoa products ( A and B ) with different non-starch polysaccharides levels ( NSP , 15.1 and 22.0 % w/w , respectively ) on bowel habits using subjective intestinal function and symptom question naires , a daily diary and a faecal marker in healthy individuals . Methods A free-living , two-stage , r and omized , crossover , single-blind intervention was carried out in 44 healthy men and women , between 18 - 55 y old , who had not taken dietary supplements , laxatives , or antibiotics six months before the start of the study . In the four-week-long intervention stages , separated by a three-week-wash-out stage , two servings of A and B , that provided 2.26 vs. 6.60 g/day of NSP respectively , were taken . In each stage , volunteers ' diet was recorded using a 72-h food intake report . Results Regularly consuming cocoa A and B increased fibre intake , although only cocoa B significantly increased fibre intake ( p < 0.001 ) with respect to the non-cocoa stage . No changes in body weight were observed in either of the 4 week interventions . With cocoa product B , the number of daily bowel movements increased ( p = 0.002 ) , the frequency of having a bowel movement once a day increased ( p = 0.009 ) , the time to have a bowel movement was lower ( p = 0.016 ) as well as the feeling of constipation ( p = 0.046 ) without inducing adverse gastrointestinal symptoms , only flatulence increased ( p = 0.019 ) . Conclusions Regular consumption of the cocoa products increases dietary fibre intake to recommended levels and product B improves bowel habits . The use of both objective and subjective assessment s to evaluate the effects of food on bowel habits is recommended
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 .