The Cardiovascular Benefits of Resistance Training and Dark Chocolate in Female Adults

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

31 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-09-01

Study Completion Date

2024-07-31

Brief Summary

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This study investigates the effects of 85% dark chocolate supplementation on vascular function and nitric oxide (NO) levels during high-intensity resistance exercise in healthy women across menstrual phases. Using a randomized crossover design, 31 women consumed either dark chocolate or milk chocolate before exercising during the early follicular and mid-luteal phases. Vascular markers, including pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels, were measured at multiple time points.

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Detailed Description

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Background:

Dark chocolate, rich in flavanols, may support vascular health by reducing arterial stiffness and blood pressure across menstrual phases. This study examined the effects of 85% dark chocolate on nitric oxide (NO) levels and vascular function during high-intensity resistance exercise in healthy women across the early follicular and mid-luteal phases.

Methods:

Thirty-one healthy women (aged 20-30 years) with regular menstrual cycles completed a randomized, crossover study (conducted at National Chung Cheng University, Sep-Dec 2023). Participants consumed either 85% dark chocolate or milk chocolate (1g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles. Finger-toe pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels were measured at rest, 2 hours after chocolate consumption (baseline), immediately post-exercise (T0), and at 60 (T60) and 120 (T120) minutes post-exercise.

Conditions

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Vascular Function in Healthy Volunteers

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

EF-MC: early follicular-milk chocolate EF-DC: early follicular-dark chocolate ML-MC: Mid Luteal-milk chocolate ML-DC: Mid Luteal-dark chocolate

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors

Double-blind

Study Groups

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Early Follicular

Participants consumed either 85% dark chocolate or milk chocolate (1g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) phases of two menstrual cycles.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

dark chocolate

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants consumed 85% dark chocolate (1g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles. Finger-toe pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels were measured at rest, 2 hours after chocolate consumption (baseline), immediately post-exercise (T0), and at 60 (T60) and 120 (T120) minutes post-exercise.

milk chocolate

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants consumed milk chocolate (1g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles. Finger-toe pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels were measured at rest, 2 hours after chocolate consumption (baseline), immediately post-exercise (T0), and at 60 (T60) and 120 (T120) minutes post-exercise.

high-intensity resistance exercise

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants performed high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles.

Mid-Luteal

Participants consumed either 85% dark chocolate or milk chocolate (1g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

dark chocolate

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants consumed 85% dark chocolate (1g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles. Finger-toe pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels were measured at rest, 2 hours after chocolate consumption (baseline), immediately post-exercise (T0), and at 60 (T60) and 120 (T120) minutes post-exercise.

milk chocolate

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants consumed milk chocolate (1g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles. Finger-toe pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels were measured at rest, 2 hours after chocolate consumption (baseline), immediately post-exercise (T0), and at 60 (T60) and 120 (T120) minutes post-exercise.

high-intensity resistance exercise

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants performed high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles.

Interventions

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dark chocolate

Participants consumed 85% dark chocolate (1g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles. Finger-toe pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels were measured at rest, 2 hours after chocolate consumption (baseline), immediately post-exercise (T0), and at 60 (T60) and 120 (T120) minutes post-exercise.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

milk chocolate

Participants consumed milk chocolate (1g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles. Finger-toe pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels were measured at rest, 2 hours after chocolate consumption (baseline), immediately post-exercise (T0), and at 60 (T60) and 120 (T120) minutes post-exercise.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

high-intensity resistance exercise

Participants performed high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* the healthy adult women,
* aged 20-30 years, from a local university campus,
* had a regular menstrual cycles in the past three months.

Exclusion Criteria

* (1) irregular menstrual cycles (menstrual cycle length \< 21 or \> 35 days in the past three months),
* (2) pregnancy or lactation in the past year,
* (3) history of cardiovascular or uterine surgery in the past six months,
* (4) use of contraceptives or other female hormone medications,
* (5) smoking or alcohol consumption habits,
* (6) hypertension (blood pressure \> 140/90 mmHg), chronic diseases, heart disease, or other cardiovascular conditions, (7) allergy to cocoa products, nuts, or fruits.

Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

30 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes