Effect of Chocolate Odor on Appetite and Resistance Exercise Performance in the Fasted State

Chocolate Odor Enhances Resistance Exercise Performance Through Appetite and Affective Pathways in the Fasted State: An Exploratory Study - CHOCO-PERF Study

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

JPRN

Registry ID

JPRN-UMIN000059639

Enrollment

Registered

2025-11-04

Start date

2025-07-18

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-06-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Appetite regulation and exercise performance in the fasted state (healthy adults)

Interventions

Participants are exposed to a 90% dark chocolate odor for 30 seconds as an olfactory stimulus, followed by appetite assessment (VAS) and resistance exercise (leg extension task). Participants are expo

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

Male

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Healthy adult men, 18-30 years Moderately trained: resistance training >=2 sessions/week for >=2 years Non-smokers Normal olfactory function (self-reported; no known smell disorder) Able to attend sessions in the fasted state (8-10 h) No known allergy to chocolate odors or solvent (propylene glycol) Provided written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: History or current diagnosis of metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological, or respiratory diseases Musculoskeletal injuries or pain that may limit resistance exercise performance Use of medications or supplements that could influence appetite, olfaction, or performance (e.g., appetite suppressants, stimulants, or caffeine intake on the test day) Presence of olfactory dysfunction, acute upper respiratory infection, or severe allergic rhinitis Known allergy to chocolate, cocoa, or propylene glycol

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The primary outcome is the total number of repetitions completed across all sets during bilateral leg-extension exercise at 80% of 10RM. The total repetitions will be compared among the three odor conditions (dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and water). Assessment timepoint: during each experimental session.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Key secondary outcomes include (1) total number of sets completed, (2) ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), (3) appetite-related measures (hunger, fullness, desire to eat, prospective food consumption), and (4) odor pleasantness (VAS). These variables are assessed at baseline and at 0, 1, 8, and 15 minutes after odor exposure.	—

Countries

Asia(except Japan)

Contacts

Public ContactMohamed Nashrudin Naharudin

Faculty of Sports and Exercise Science, Universiti Malaya Division of Exercise Physiology

nashrudin@um.edu.my60379670000

Outcome results

None listed

Source: JPRN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Jul 3, 2026