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Cardiometabolic Impact of Encapsulated Cocoa Powder and Pure Cocoa Ingredients Supplementation: A Comparative Placebo-Controlled RCT in Adults.

  • 2025-02-03
  • Molecular nutrition & food research 69(5)
    • Janina Weigant
    • Anuschka Afchar
    • Meike Barzen
    • Lisa Dicks
    • Benno F Zimmermann
    • Matthias Schmid
    • Leonie Weinhold
    • Birgit Stoffel-Wagner
    • Jörg Ellinger
    • Peter Stehle
    • Sabine Ellinger

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 15
Population
75 healthy young adults
Methods
In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 75 healthy young adults ingested capsules containing either (i) flavanol-rich cocoa powder, (ii) EC, (iii) MX, (iv) EC + MX, or (v) placebo (n = 15 per group) daily for 4 weeks.
Duration
4 weeks
  • Rigorous Journal
Consuming cocoa rich in flavan-3-ols (particularly epicatechin [EC]) may reduce vascular stiffness and blood pressure (BP) and improve serum lipid profiles. Because interventional studies on pure EC exhibited inconclusive results, the role of other cocoa ingredients such as methylxanthines (MX) on vascular health was assumed. This study aimed to systematically compare the effects of flavanol-rich cocoa and its major components EC and MX on vascular function and serum lipid levels. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 75 healthy young adults ingested capsules containing either (i) flavanol-rich cocoa powder, (ii) EC, (iii) MX, (iv) EC + MX, or (v) placebo (n = 15 per group) daily for 4 weeks. Capsules provided equal amounts of EC and/or MX as the cocoa capsules. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), BP, endothelin-1, and lipids were investigated before and after intervention. No group-specific statistically significant differences in aortic PWV (p = 0.410) or any other parameters (p ≥ 0.05) were observed between before and after the intervention. Daily intake of neither flavanol-rich cocoa nor pure cocoa ingredients influenced vascular function and lipid profiles in healthy adults. Consequently, RCTs involving subjects with increased cardiometabolic risk may clarify the effects of EC and MX as cocoa components on cardiovascular health parameters. Trial Registration: URL: https://drks.de/search/en/trial. Unique identifier: DRKS00022056.

Research Insights

  • Green Tea→Improved Blood Lipid Profile

    No group-specific statistically significant differences in aortic PWV (p=0.410) or any other parameters (p≥0.05) were observed.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • Green Tea→Reduced Blood Pressure

    No group-specific statistically significant differences in aortic PWV (p=0.410) or any other parameters (p≥0.05) were observed.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • Green Tea→Reduced Endothelin-1 Level

    No group-specific statistically significant differences in aortic PWV (p=0.410) or any other parameters (p≥0.05) were observed.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • Green Tea→Reduced Pulse Wave Velocity

    No group-specific statistically significant differences in aortic PWV (p=0.410) or any other parameters (p≥0.05) were observed.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
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