Surprising
A blend of pomegranate rind and cacao seed extracts cut fatigue scores in aging men with sexual dysfunction — but the study was small, had no specified dose, and tested a combination, not cacao alone.
This is one of the first trials to show this specific combo may ease fatigue in a clinical population of older men with low libido and mild erectile issues — but the novelty means we have no replication yet, and the result can't be generalized to healthy people or to cacao as a standalone supplement.
In an 84-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 60 aging men with mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction and low sexual desire, a standardized extract combining pomegranate fruit rind and cacao seed (LN18178) produced statistically significant improvements in fatigue scores, as measured by the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, alongside gains in general health and muscle strength. Because the study tested a proprietary blend with an unspecified dose of cacao specifically, and enrolled only a narrow clinical population, the finding doesn't tell us whether cacao alone reduces fatigue in healthier or younger individuals.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on Cacao for Reduced Fatigue — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- n = 60
- 2025-01-01
- International journal of medical sciences
- PubMed: 39781534
- DOI: 10.7150/ijms.99958
- Full study breakdown →
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