Cardiovascular Health During Prolonged Sitting
Conditions
Keywords
Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate, Prolonged Sitting, Blood Pressure, Pulse Wave Velocity, Heart Rate Variability
Brief summary
This randomized controlled crossover trial investigates the acute effects of consuming dark, milk, and white chocolate before prolonged sitting on cardiovascular health in healthy adults. Each participant completes three separate study visits and receives all three chocolate conditions in a randomized order, with a 7-day washout period between visits. Blood pressure, heart rate, pulse wave velocity, blood glucose, appetite, pain, and calf circumference are measured before and during a 3-hour sitting perio
Detailed description
Prolonged sitting is associated with acute adverse changes in vascular and metabolic health. Cocoa-rich chocolate contains bioactive compounds that may influence vascular responses; however, the effects of different chocolate types consumed before prolonged sitting are not fully understood. This study is a randomized controlled crossover trial in healthy adults. Each participant completes three experimental visits and receives all three chocolate conditions (dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate) in a randomized sequence determined before enrollment. A 7-day washout period is maintained between visits to minimize carryover effects. At each visit, baseline measurements are obtained before chocolate consumption. Participants then consume the assigned chocolate condition, followed by post-consumption assessments and a standardized 3-hour sitting period. Repeated measurements are collected throughout the sitting period. Outcome measures include blood pressure, heart rate, pulse wave velocity, capillary blood glucose, appetite visual analogue scale(VAS), pain visual analogue scale(VAS), and calf circumference. The study aims to compare acute physiological responses among the three chocolate conditions before prolonged sitting.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTdark chocolate
Participants consume dark chocolate 1 hour before prolonged sitting.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTMilk Chocolate
Participants consume milk chocolate 1 hour before prolonged sitting.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTWhite Chocolate
Participants consume white chocolate 1 hour before prolonged sitting.
Sponsors
King Saud University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Each participant receives all three chocolate conditions (dark, milk, and white chocolate) in randomized order across three separate visits with a 7-day washout period between visits.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Adult males and females aged between 18 and 40 years. * Participants with blood pressure within the normal or elevated range (less than 130/80 mmHg), according to the American Heart Association guidelines.
Exclusion criteria
* Females with menopause will be excluded due to the physiological effects of menopause and to ensure hormonal stability. * Participants with nut allergies, due to the possibility that the chocolate used may contain traces of nuts resulting from manufacturing processes. * Participants with dairy allergies, due to the use of milk chocolate and white chocolate, and the possibility that dark chocolate may contain traces of milk resulting from manufacturing processes . * Participants with chronic diseases that may affect the study variables, such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes, or any medical condition that affects circulation. * Participants using medications that may affect the targeted physiological measurements in the study, such as antihypertensive medications, antidiabetic medications, or drugs affecting the autonomic nervous system. * Participants with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m², due to the association between obesity and vascular dysfunction, characterized by increased blood pressure and arterial stiffness, which may lead to variability in vascular responses. * Participants who are physically active (≥150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity), to avoid the impact of high levels of training on vascular responses. * Smokers, due to the chronic effects of smoking on endothelial function and arterial stiffness. * Participants with back injuries that limit their ability to sit continuously for three hours. * Female participants who are pregnant, breastfeeding, due to the associated hormonal changes that may influence the physiological indicators measured in the study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure (Systolic, Diastolic, Mean Arterial Pressure) | Baseline, 1 hour post-chocolate, and hourly during 3 hours of prolonged sitting | Blood pressure will be measured using an automated sphygmomanometer under each chocolate condition (dark, milk, white). |
| Pulse Wave Velocity | Baseline, 1 hour post-chocolate, and hourly during 3 hours of prolonged sitting | Arterial stiffness will be assessed using estimated pulse wave velocity under each chocolate condition. |
| Heart Rate Variability | Baseline, 1 hour post-chocolate, and hourly during 3 hours of prolonged sitting | Autonomic cardiac function will be assessed using heart rate variability derived from RR interval recordings under each chocolate condition. |
| Heart Rate | Baseline, 1 hour post-chocolate, and hourly during 3 hours of prolonged sitting. | Heart rate will be measured under each chocolate condition during the study visits. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Capillary Blood Glucose | Baseline, 1 hour post-chocolate, and hourly during 3 hours of prolonged sitting | Capillary blood glucose will be measured using finger-prick blood samples under each chocolate condition. |
| Appetite Visual Analog Scale | Baseline, 1 hour post-chocolate, and hourly during 3 hours of prolonged sitting | Subjective appetite ratings will be assessed using a visual analog scale. |
| Pain Visual Analog Scale | Baseline, 1 hour post-chocolate, and hourly during 3 hours of prolonged sitting | Subjective discomfort or pain during prolonged sitting will be assessed using a visual analog scale. |
| Calf Circumference | Baseline and hourly during 3 hours of prolonged sitting | Calf circumference will be measured to assess lower limb swelling during prolonged sitting. |
Countries
Saudi Arabia
Contacts
CONTACTRazan S Alahmadi, MSc Candidate
STUDY_DIRECTORAbdullah B Alansare, PhD
King Saud University
Outcome results
None listed