Effects of Chocolate on Motor Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

NCT00906763 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: EK284112008
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 23
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Chocolate consumption has long been associated with enjoyment and pleasure. Popular claims confer on chocolate the properties of being a stimulant, relaxant, euphoriant and antidepressant. These possible pharmacological actions might be related to various biogenic amines, such as serotonin, dopamine, tyramine, histamine, phenylethylamine and cannabinoid-like substances. Most amines are metabolized by monoamineoxidase-A (MAO-A) and are therefore unable to pass the blood-brain-barrier. In contrast, phenylethylamine is a direct dopamine releasing ingredient and as a substrate of MAO-B and due to its lipophilic structure even capable to pass the blood-brain-barrier. Within this line, own clinical observations suggested an increased chocolate consumption in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) compared to healthy subjects and to their pre-disease state. In a previous study, we assessed the consumption of chocolate and non-chocolate sweets in PD patients and their partners (as household controls) using a self-questionnaire. Consumption of chocolate was significantly higher in PD patients compared to controls, while consumption of non-chocolate sweets was similar in both groups. Our study suggests that chocolate consumption is increased in PD independent of concomitant depressive symptoms measured by BDI-1. Although reasons for increased chocolate consumption in PD remain elusive, it may hypothetically be a consequence of the high content of various biogenic amines as a content of cocoa influencing dopamine metabolism. Therefore, in the present study we aim to study the effects of dark chocolate with high cocoa content (85%) compared to chocolate without any cocoa (white chocolate) on motor symptoms in PD patients as measured with UPDRS part III (motor score). The principle design of the intervention is similar to the standard pharmacological challenge test for studying effects on motor symptoms in PD (e.g. levodopa challenge test).

Conditions

Parkinson's Disease

Keywords

Parkinson's disease; Neurodegenerative Disorders; Biogenic amines; Chocolate; Cocoa

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• UPDRS part III

  1 h after intake of study intervention

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Biogenic amines in blood

  1 to 3 h after study intervention

Study Arms (2)

Dark Chocolate (85% cocoa)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Oral Intake of dark chocolate (85% cocoa) over 15 minutes.

Dietary Supplement: Chocolate

White chocolate (0% cocoa)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Oral intake of 200 grams of white chocolate (0% cocoa) over 15 Minutes.

Dietary Supplement: Chocolate

Interventions

Chocolate DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

A single oral application of 200 grams of chocolate (85% cocoa for arm #1; 0% cocoa for arm #2).

Dark Chocolate (85% cocoa); White chocolate (0% cocoa)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age of 18 Years or older
• Idiopathic Parkinson's disease, according to UKBB criteria
• Hoehn \& Yahr Score II-III
• Points or more in UPDRS part III scale
• Sufficient ability to follow the study procedure for at least 3 hours
• Ability to give informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Psychiatric conditions, severe enough to interfere with study procedures
• motor or affective fluctuations or dyskinesias
• treatment with COMT and/or MAO inhibitors
• Diabetes mellitus

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Technische Universität Dresden: lead

Study Sites (1)

Dresden University of Technology, Medical Faculty

Dresden, 01307, Germany

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Wolz M, Kaminsky A, Lohle M, Koch R, Storch A, Reichmann H. Chocolate consumption is increased in Parkinson's disease. Results from a self-questionnaire study. J Neurol. 2009 Mar;256(3):488-92. doi: 10.1007/s00415-009-0118-9. Epub 2009 Mar 13.

  PMID: 19277767 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease; Neurodegenerative Diseases

Interventions

Chocolate

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Food; Diet, Food, and Nutrition; Physiological Phenomena; Food and Beverages

Study Officials

• Martin Wolz, MD

  Technische Universität Dresden

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Martin Wolz, MD

CONTACT

++49-351-458; martin.wolz@neuro.med.tu-dresden.de

Alexander Storch, MD

CONTACT

++49-351-458; alexander.storch@neuro.med.tu-dresden.de

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 20, 2009
• First Posted: May 21, 2009
• Study Start: May 1, 2009
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2010
• Study Completion: October 1, 2010
• Last Updated: May 26, 2010

Record last verified: 2010-05

Locations

DE (1)