NCT01651793

Effect of Phytochemicals From Theobroma Cacao on Mental Energy

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 24 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Georgia · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 34 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine which substances in cocoa produces changes in mental energy. This is a double blind study. The primary outcome measures are performance on tasks of sustained attention (serial subtract, continuous performance test and Bakan task) at pre and 90, 120 and 160 minutes post intervention, energy and fatigue symptoms (profile of mood state), and ratings of motivation to perform cognitive tasks. The assigned interventions are the following:

Detailed description

Only one prior study has examined the acute influence of cocoa on mental energy. The purpose of this research is to replicate the previous observations and extend research in four ways: 1) start to determine which substance in cocoa responsible for the effect by including several comparison groups, 2) focus on individuals with average or below average symptoms of mental energy and who are not high consumers of fruits, vegetables and other products containing high amounts of flavonoids in order to learn whether people with low energy accrue a greater benefit, and 3) include additional measures of mental energy plausibly influenced by cocoa to better understand the health consequences of cocoa.

Conditions

• Mental Fatigue

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Caffeinated cocoa	70 mg caffeine, 179 mg theobromine, 499 mg flavanols, and 1 packet of Truvia sweetener
OTHER	Cocoa	21 mg caffeine, 179 mg theobromine, 499 mg flavanols, and 1 packet of Truvia sweetener
OTHER	Caffeine	473 ml brewed water containing 66 mg caffeine, caramel coloring and one packet Truvia sweetener
OTHER	Placebo	473 ml of brewed water, caramel coloring and one packet Truvia sweetener

Timeline

• Start date: 2012-07-01
• Primary completion: 2014-06-01
• Completion: 2014-06-01
• First posted: 2012-07-27
• Last updated: 2018-06-25
• Results posted: 2018-06-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States