Chocolate Unsupportive of Neuropsychological Variables

BLACKSBURG, Va.—A recent study at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University failed to support predicted beneficial effects of chocolate and cocoa consumption on neuropsychological and cardiovascular health-related variables (Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87(4):872-80). The double blind, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose, parallel-group clinical trial randomly assigned 101 participants to receive a 37 g/d dark chocolate bar and 8 oz. of an artificially sweetened cocoa beverage or similar placebo products for six weeks. There were no significant interactions found for the neuropsychological, hematological or blood pressure variables examined in the chocolate or placebo group. Dark chocolate and cocoa was associated with significantly higher pulse rates at three- and six-week treatment assessments.