Beneficial effects of dark chocolate on exercise capacity in sedentary subjects: underlying mechanisms. A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial

• Published in: Food & function Vol. 7; no. 9; pp. 3686 - 3693
• Main Authors: Taub, Pam R, Ramirez-Sanchez, Israel, Patel, Minal, Higginbotham, Erin, Moreno-Ulloa, Aldo, Román-Pintos, Luis Miguel, Phillips, Paul, Perkins, Guy, Ceballos, Guillermo, Villarreal, Francisco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 14.09.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; biomarkers; biopsy; blood sampling; Cacao - metabolism; chocolate; Chocolate - analysis; citrate (si)-synthase; clinical trials; Double-Blind Method; enzyme activity; Exercise; exercise test; Female; glutathione; heart failure; high density lipoprotein; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; mitochondria; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; oxidative stress; patients; placebos; protein content; Sedentary Lifestyle; skeletal muscle; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides - metabolism

In heart failure patients the consumption of (−)-epicatechin ((−)-Epi)-rich cocoa can restore skeletal muscle (SkM) mitochondrial structure and decrease biomarkers of oxidative stress. However, nothing is known about its effects on exercise capacity and underlying mechanisms in normal, sedentary sub...