Hypertension Circulatory System Hypertension
Conditions
Interventions
6 - 7 g of dark chocolate rich in antioxidants will be delivered by teachers to each participant in intervention arm classes on school days over School Term 4, in 2010 (about 8 weeks), and none will b
Sponsors
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI) (Australia)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: All Grade 5 and 6 children (aged between 10 - 13 years old, either sex) in participating classes whose parents consent
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Hypertension under pharmacological treatment 2. Major medical or developmental condition(s) limiting participation in the study (at the discretion of the research team and child's family) 3. Anaphylaxis to nuts (hazelnut or almond) or dairy in children who carry Epipen(s). Dark chocolate does not contain milk, and we will use varieties that do not contain nuts. However, chocolate manufacturers usually state that their chocolate is manufactured on equipment that is also used for foods that contain nuts and/or milk. Therefore, we think it prudent to exclude children with serious nut or milk allergy.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Measured at baseline and 8 weeks: 1. Acceptability and feasibility of the study as assessed by recruitment rate and participant (students and teachers) feedback 2. Blood pressure outcomes between intervention and control groups | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Measured at baseline and 8 weeks: 1. Anthropometry - weight, height, BMI and waist girth 2. Percentage body fat, as measured by multiple frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) 3. Health-related quality of life and body image - assessed through the 23-item PEDS QL 4.0 Child Self-Report, a validated measure of child quality of life, and a pictorial body perception and preference scale used in many of our previous studies | — |
Countries
Australia
Outcome results
None listed