Role of Flavanols in Exercise and Aging

Summary

It has well known that diets rich in fruits, vegetables and cocoa products are associated with positive health benefits and these positive effects have been shown to be due to compounds they contain called flavanols. Flavanols have been shown to exert their positive effects by indirectly increasing nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. NO is a potent vasodilator that is believed to play a role in increasing blood flow to active muscle during exercise. This regulatory process is impaired with healthy aging. The underlying premise to this study is that if NO bioavailability can be increased following flavanol ingestion, will there be a restoration of blood flow during exercise in older individuals? Accordingly, the first part of this research project will compare the acute vascular effects of flavanol ingestion between a young and old group. The investigators have hypothesized that both groups will show an improvement in blood flow to active muscle during exercise, though the magnitude of the change will be greater in the older group. The second part of this project will look at the effects of 4 weeks of daily flavanol ingestion in the old group. The investigators hypothesize that subjects will demonstrate an improvement in blood flow to active muscle during exercise after the 4 week intervention and that the magnitude of the change will be greater than the acute effects. Findings from this proposal will provide evidence for the efficacy of flavanols to be used (as a simple and safe lifestyle intervention) to reverse or combat impaired blood flow regulation in older individuals.

Conditions

• Aging

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

High Flavanol Trial

The experimental trial (high flavanol content) will involve the consumption of a beverage containing about 1000mg of cocoa flavanols.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Low Flavanol Trial

The placebo trial (low flavanol content) will involve the consumption of a beverage containing 75 mg of cocoa flavanols.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

High Flavanol Trial; long-term

The experimental trial (high flavanol content) will involve the daily consumption of a beverage containing about 1000mg of cocoa flavanols for 4 weeks. Subjects will be provided with 28 packets of the beverage to take home with them.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Low Flavanol Trial; long-term effects

The placebo trial (low flavanol content) will involve the daily consumption of a beverage containing 75 mg of cocoa flavanols for 4 weeks. Subjects will be provided with 28 packets to take home with them.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Texas at Austin

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Michelle Harrison, M.A. · University of Texas at Austin

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-12-31

Primary Completion

2014-04-30

Completion

2014-04-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations