Effects of Dark Chocolate on the Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases

NCT06808282 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 658065
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death in the US. Epidemiologic evidence supports that antioxidant-rich diets promote health and attenuate or delay the onset of CVD. Cocoa and chocolate products have among the highest antioxidant concentrations compared to other antioxidant food sources. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of regular dark chocolate, bloomed dark chocolate, and white chocolate on cardiovascular health markers.

Conditions

Cardiovascular Diseases

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Change of systolic and diastolic blood pressure

  Change of systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be determined to examine effects of dark chocolate consumption vs white chocolate.

  Baseline and Day 15

• Change of skin blood flow level

  Change of skin blood flow level will be determined using Laser Doppler Flowmetry to examine effects of dark chocolate consumption vs white chocolate. Laser Doppler flowmetry is an optical technology widely used in research to measure blood flow. It is a non-invasive, painless technique for studying microcirculatory changes in tissue.

  Baseline and Day 15

• Change of HDL cholesterol level

  Change of blood cholesterol level will be determined to examine effects of dark chocolate consumption vs white chocolate.

  Baseline and Day 15

• Change of antioxidant levels

  Change of antioxidant levels will be determined to examine effects of dark chocolate consumption vs white chocolate.

  Baseline and Day 15

Study Arms (2)

White chocolate

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Subjects consume 50g of white chocolate daily for 15 days.

Other: White chocolate

Dark chocolate

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects consume 50g of dark chocolate daily for 15 days.

Other: Dark chocolate

Interventions

Dark chocolate OTHER

To determine the effects of dark chocolate consumption on risk factors of cardiovascular diseases

Dark chocolate

White chocolate OTHER

To determine the effects of white chocolate consumption on risk factors of cardiovascular diseases

White chocolate

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 21 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Generally healthy subjects

You may not qualify if:

• Smoker
• Pregnant woman
• Lactose intolerance
• Required dietary supplement use
• Required medication of metabolic disorders
• Allergy to cacao

Sponsors & Collaborators

• San Diego State University: lead

Study Sites (1)

San Diego State University

San Diego, California, 92182, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cardiovascular Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 28, 2025
• First Posted: February 5, 2025
• Study Start: April 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: February 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)