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 .
Prebiotic evaluation of cocoa-derived flavanols in healthy humans by using a randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover intervention study.
BACKGROUND The absorption of cocoa flavanols in the small intestine is limited , and the majority of the flavanols reach the large intestine where they may be metabolized by resident microbiota . OBJECTIVE We assessed the prebiotic potential of cocoa flavanols in a r and omized , double-blind , crossover , controlled intervention study . DESIGN Twenty-two healthy human volunteers were r and omly assigned to either a high-cocoa flavanol ( HCF ) group ( 494 mg cocoa flavanols/d ) or a low-cocoa flavanol ( LCF ) group ( 23 mg cocoa flavanols/d ) for 4 wk . This was followed by a 4-wk washout period before volunteers crossed to the alternant arm . Fecal sample s were recovered before and after each intervention , and bacterial numbers were measured by fluorescence in situ hybridization . A number of other biochemical and physiologic markers were measured . RESULTS Compared with the consumption of the LCF drink , the daily consumption of the HCF drink for 4 wk significantly increased the bifidobacterial ( P < 0.01 ) and lactobacilli ( P < 0.001 ) population s but significantly decreased clostridia counts ( P < 0.001 ) . These microbial changes were paralleled by significant reductions in plasma triacylglycerol ( P < 0.05 ) and C-reactive protein ( P < 0.05 ) concentrations . Furthermore , changes in C-reactive protein concentrations were linked to changes in lactobacilli counts ( P < 0.05 , R(2 ) = -0.33 for the model ) . These in vivo changes were closely paralleled by cocoa flavanol-induced bacterial changes in mixed-batch culture experiments . CONCLUSION This study shows , for the first time to our knowledge , that consumption of cocoa flavanols can significantly affect the growth of select gut microflora in humans , which suggests the potential prebiotic benefits associated with the dietary inclusion of flavanol-rich foods . This trial was registered at clinical trials.gov as NCT01091922
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 .