[Note: to read the full text of the report on this small “proof of concept” trial free, click HERE. “Anecdotally, two subjects were able to return to work after having had their symptoms for a 2-year period and chose to continue on a high cocoa solid chocolate diet.”]
Background: Chocolate is rich in flavonoids that have been shown to be of benefit in disparate conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer. The effect of polyphenol rich chocolate in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has not been studied previously.
Methods: We conducted a double blinded, randomised, clinical pilot crossover study comparing high cocoa liquor / polyphenol rich chocolate (HCL/PR) in comparison to simulated iso-calorific chocolate (cocoa liquor free/ low polyphenols(CLF/LP)) on fatigue and residual function in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome. Subjects with CFS having severe fatigue of at least 10 out of 11 on the Chalder Fatigue Scale were enrolled. Subjects had either 8 weeks of intervention in the form of HCL/PR or CLF/LP, with a 2 week wash out period followed by 8 weeks of intervention with the other chocolate.
Results: Ten subjects were enrolled in the study.
• The Chalder Fatigue Scale score improved significantly after 8 weeks of the HCL/PR chocolate arm [median (range) Exact Sig. (2-tailed)] [33 (25 - 38) vs. 21.5 (6 - 35) 0.01],
• But that deteriorated significantly when subjects were given simulated iso-calorific chocolate (CLF/CP) [ 28.5 (17 - 20) vs. 34.5 (13-26) 0.03].
• The residual function, as assessed by the London Handicap scale, also improved significantly after the HCL/PR arm [0.49 (0.33 - 0.62) vs. 0.64 ( 0.44 - 0.83) 0.01] and deteriorated after iso-calorific chocolate [00.44 (0.43 - 0.68) vs. 0.36 ( 0.33 - 0.62)0.03].
• Likewise the Hospital Anxiety and Depression score also improved after the HCL/PR arm, but deteriorated after CLF/CP. Mean weight remained unchanged throughout the trial.
Conclusion: This study suggests that HCL/ PR chocolate may improve symptoms in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Source: Nutrition Journal, Nov 22, 2010. By Sathyapalan t, Beckett S, Rigby AS, Mellor DD, Atkin SL. Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Hull York Medical School; Department of Chemistry, University of Hull; Academic Cardiology and Hull York Medical School, Hull, UK. [Email: thozhukat.sathyapalan@hyms.ac.uk]
