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Effects of Dark Chocolate on Exercise Capacity in Sedentary Older Subjects: Underlying Mechanisms
Author(s) -
Villarreal Francisco,
RamirezSanchez Israel,
MorenoUlloa Aldo,
Roman Luis,
Ceballos Guillermo,
Patel Minal,
Higginbotham Erin,
Taub Pam
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.733.16
Subject(s) - placebo , mitochondrial biogenesis , ampk , medicine , endocrinology , citrate synthase , mitochondrion , phosphorylation , chemistry , biochemistry , protein kinase a , enzyme , pathology , alternative medicine
We previously shown in patients with heart failure and type II diabetes that treatment with dark chocolate (DC) improves mitochondrial structure, indicators of mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative stress in skeletal muscle (SkM). For this study, 17 sedentary subjects (mean age 50 years old) were randomized to placebo (n=8) or DC groups (n=9). In a double blind manner, subjects consumed either 2 squares of Hersheys' Extra Dark chocolate or placebo (20 g) for 3 months. Subjects underwent bicycle ergometry to assess VO 2 max and power, lipid profile and SkM biopsy to investigate underlying mechanisms. In the DC group, there was a trend for an increase in V0 2 max (p=0.056 before vs. after) with no changes with placebo. In the DC group post‐treatment there was an increase in maximum exercise related work (watts) achieved (p=0.03). The DC group showed significant increases in HDL levels (p=0.005) and a trend for decreases in triglycerides (p=0.07). SkM biochemistry showed significant increases in protein for metabolic and/or mitochondrial biogenesis control enzymes (PGC1‐alpha, AMPK and LKB1), in their phosphorylation levels and in citrate synthase activity with DC. In conclusion, treatment of sedentary, older subjects with DC improves HDL cholesterol in association with upstream regulators of SkM metabolic control. There were improvements in maximum work and in VO 2 max, which may suggest that DC enhances SkM mitochondria efficiency.