Chocolate's Effect on the Cerebral Vasculature

A Randomised Trial of Effect of Chocolate Upon Cerebrovascular Reactivity in Healthy Adult Volunteers

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01507259

Enrollment

Registered

2012-01-10

Start date

2012-02-29

Completion date

2012-02-29

Last updated

2012-07-27

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

Conditions

Cerebral Vasculature

Keywords

Determine effect on cerebral vasculature

Brief summary

The popularity of chocolate can largely be attributed to its mood elevating properties, research shows that it contains antioxidants that also provide physical health benefits. Dark chocolate, in particular, contains high levels of an antioxidant called epicatechin, which is known to cause changes in blood vessels by relaxing them and increasing blood flow. Little is know about the immediate effects of chocolate consumption, or the differences between milk and dark chocolate with regards to these effects. The project will investigate the effect of a single bar of dark or milk chocolate upon blood flow to the brain, using simple ultrasound tests.

Interventions

OTHERcocoa

70% versus 34%

Study design

Observational model

CASE_CROSSOVER

Time perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 40 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* No regular medication including vitamins/antioxidants * Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

* Inability to perform breath-hold test * Any known cardiovascular disease, diabetes, throid disease, high blood pressure, hyperlipidaemia or pregnancy

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026