NCT06908941

The Cardiovascular Benefits of Resistance Training and Dark Chocolate in Female Adults

The Cardiovascular Benefits of Dark Chocolate Supplementation Before High-intensity Resistance Exercise in the Early Follicular and Mid-luteal Phases of the Menstrual Cycle

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 31 (actual)
• Sponsor: National Cheng Kung University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 20 Years – 30 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study investigates the effects of 85% dark chocolate supplementation on vascular function and nitric oxide (NO) levels during high-intensity resistance exercise in healthy women across menstrual phases. Using a randomized crossover design, 31 women consumed either dark chocolate or milk chocolate before exercising during the early follicular and mid-luteal phases. Vascular markers, including pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels, were measured at multiple time points.

Detailed description

Background: Dark chocolate, rich in flavanols, may support vascular health by reducing arterial stiffness and blood pressure across menstrual phases. This study examined the effects of 85% dark chocolate on nitric oxide (NO) levels and vascular function during high-intensity resistance exercise in healthy women across the early follicular and mid-luteal phases. Methods: Thirty-one healthy women (aged 20-30 years) with regular menstrual cycles completed a randomized, crossover study (conducted at National Chung Cheng University, Sep-Dec 2023). Participants consumed either 85% dark chocolate or milk chocolate (1g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles. Finger-toe pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels were measured at rest, 2 hours after chocolate consumption (baseline), immediately post-exercise (T0), and at 60 (T60) and 120 (T120) minutes post-exercise.

Conditions

• Vascular Function in Healthy Volunteers

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	dark chocolate	Participants consumed 85% dark chocolate (1g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles. Finger-toe pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels were measured at rest, 2 hours after chocolate consumption (baseline), immediately post-exercise (T0), and at 60 (T60) and 120 (T120) minutes post-exercise.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	milk chocolate	Participants consumed milk chocolate (1g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles. Finger-toe pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels were measured at rest, 2 hours after chocolate consumption (baseline), immediately post-exercise (T0), and at 60 (T60) and 120 (T120) minutes post-exercise.
BEHAVIORAL	high-intensity resistance exercise	Participants performed high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2-5) and mid-luteal (days 18-24) phases of two menstrual cycles.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-09-01
• Primary completion: 2023-12-31
• Completion: 2024-07-31
• First posted: 2025-04-03
• Last updated: 2025-04-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Taiwan