We're building a better ClinicalTrials.gov. Check it out and tell us what you think!
Working…
ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov Menu

Effects of Cocoa Intake on Blood Pressure in Elderly Individuals With Mild Hypertension

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00421499
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : January 12, 2007
Last Update Posted : January 12, 2007
Sponsor:
Information provided by:
University of Cologne

Study Description
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information
Brief Summary:

Regular intake of cocoa-containing foods is linked to a considerably lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in observational studies. Short-term intervention studies indicate that high doses of cocoa improve endothelial function and reduce blood pressure (BP), but the clinical impact of long-term intake of small dietary amounts of cocoa on BP and the underlying BP lowering mechanisms are unclear. We hypothesized that cocoa consumption lowers blood pressure by augmentation of the circulating vasodilative nitric oxide (NO) pool due to the action of the cocoa polyphenols at the vascular endothelium.

To test this hypothesis, we will conduct a randomized single-blind, parallel group study in subjects with mild essential hypertension to evaluate the effects of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate versus polyphenol-free white chocolate on blood pressure and plasma levels of cocoa phenols, circulating bioactive nitric oxide, and plasma markers of oxidative stress. After a 7 day cocoa-free run-in period, 44 subjects will be 1:1 randomized to receive over 18 weeks daily doses of either dark chocolate (6.3 g per day with a total of 30 mg of polyphenols and 30 kcal) or polyphenol free white chocolate (5.6 g per day with 30 kcal, containing similar amounts of macronutrients, electrolytes and vitamins). Subjects will be counseled to maintain an isocaloric diet and to abstain from other cocoa products during the study. Blood pressure and plasma parameters will be assessed in each subject after the run-in period and after 6, 12, and 18 weeks of treatment.


Condition or disease Intervention/treatment Phase
Hypertension Drug: dark chocolate Phase 1

Study Design
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Layout table for study information
Study Type : Interventional  (Clinical Trial)
Enrollment : 44 participants
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: Randomized Controlled, Parallel Group, Single Blinded, Phase 1 Study That Investigates the Effects of Regular Daily Intake of Small Amounts of Dark or White Chocolate on Blood Pressure in Elderly Individuals With Mild Hypertension
Study Start Date : January 2005
Study Completion Date : May 2005

Resource links provided by the National Library of Medicine


Arms and Interventions
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information


Outcome Measures
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure

Secondary Outcome Measures :
  1. plasma levels of bioactive nitric oxide, 8-isoprostane, cocoa polyphenols

Eligibility Criteria
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Information from the National Library of Medicine

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.


Layout table for eligibility information
Ages Eligible for Study:   55 Years to 75 Years   (Adult, Older Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects between the ages of 55 - 75 years in good general health with high normal blood pressure (between 130/80 and 140/90 mmHg) or mild hypertension (blood pressure between 140/90 and 160/100 mmHg)on no medication or nutritional supplements
  • Non-manual workers with a household income > 20,000 €/year
  • Normal plasma lipids (total plasma cholesterol < 6.18 mmol/L
  • LDL < 4.11 mmol/L
  • HDL > 0.9 mmol/L
  • Triacylglycerols < 1.8 mmol/L) and normal plasma glucose (fasting plasma glucose 4.2-6.4 mmol/L).
  • If a subject's blood pressure exceeds 170/100 mmHg on a single visit, the subject will be withdrawn from the study and referred to appropriate antihypertensive therapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects are excluded if they have:

  • Cardiovascular diseases (other than hypertension)
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Hyper-/dyslipidemia
  • Gastrointestinal diseases
  • Hepatic and renal disorders
  • Pulmonary diseases
  • Coagulopathy
  • Cancer
  • Psychiatric disorders
  • Alcohol or drug dependence
  • Seizure disorders
  • History of organ transplantation
  • Surgery within the last 12 months
  • Positive tests for HIV, hepatitis B or C.

Subjects are excluded if they have:

  • A body-mass index of more than 27.5 or less than 18.5 kg/m2
  • Actively smoked tobacco within the last five years
  • Regularly use medications
  • Used any medication within the last two weeks before entry
  • Use vitamin, mineral or polyphenol supplements or functional food.

Subjects will be excluded if they are unable to give informed consent for all procedures; or subjects who are not capable or willing to appear for controlling visits.

Contacts and Locations
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00421499


Locations
Layout table for location information
Germany
Department of Pharmacology, University of Cologne
Cologne, Germany, 50931
Sponsors and Collaborators
University of Cologne
Investigators
Layout table for investigator information
Principal Investigator: Dirk Taubert Department of Pharmacology, University of Cologne
More Information
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information
Publications:

Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

Layout table for additonal information
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00421499    
Other Study ID Numbers: ECA-02-005
First Posted: January 12, 2007    Key Record Dates
Last Update Posted: January 12, 2007
Last Verified: January 2007
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Layout table for MeSH terms
Hypertension
Vascular Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases