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Can Cocoa Flavanols Protect Endothelial Function During Prolonged Sitting in Healthy Older Adults?

NCT07265869 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 20

Last updated 2025-12-05

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Sitting time is high in older adults and has been shown to temporarily impair endothelial function and blood pressure. Flavanols, plant-derived compounds, acutely enhance endothelial function and reduce Blood pressure in older adults. The aim of this study is to investigate whether acute ingestion of cocoa flavanols can improve peripheral endothelial function and blood pressure during prolonged sitting in healthy older adults.

In a randomised, double-blinded, cross-over, placebo-controlled human study, 20 healthy older adults will consume either a high-flavanol (695 mg) or low-flavanol (5.6 mg) cocoa beverage immediately before a 2-hour sitting bout. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the superficial femoral (SFA; primary outcome) and brachial (BA) arteries, and blood pressure, were assessed before and after sitting. Microvasculature haemodynamics were assessed in the gastrocnemius before, during, and after sitting. It is hypothesized that the high flavanol cocoa will prevent declines in brachial and superficial femoral Flow-mediated dilatation post sitting.

Conditions

  • Healthy
  • Ageing

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

High-flavanol cocoa powder

12 g of a fat-reduced natural cocoa powder containing 150 mg of (-)-epicatechin, and 695 mg of total flavanols

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Low-flavanol cocoa powder

12 g of a fat-reduced alkalized cocoa powder containing 5.6 mg of total flavanols

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Birmingham

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2022-08-02
Primary Completion
2023-08-24
Completion
2023-08-24

Countries

  • United Kingdom

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07265869 on ClinicalTrials.gov