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Flavanol-rich cocoa consumption enhances exercise-induced executive function improvements in humans
Hayato Tsukamoto1, Tadashi Suga2, Aya Ishibashi3
1Research Organization of Science and Technology, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan.
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
|January 2, 2018
Summary
Consuming high cocoa flavanol (CF) beverages before aerobic exercise enhances executive function (EF) improvements. This combination boosts exercise benefits for EF but does not impact memory function (MF).
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Aerobic exercise acutely enhances cognitive functions, including executive function (EF) and memory function (MF).
- Cocoa flavanol (CF) consumption has also been linked to acute improvements in cognitive function.
- The synergistic effects of combining CF intake with exercise on cognitive performance remain under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether high cocoa flavanol (HCF) consumption potentiates exercise-induced improvements in EF and MF.
- To examine the combined impact of HCF intake and moderate-intensity exercise on cognitive function during post-exercise recovery.
Main Methods:
- Ten healthy young men participated in a single-blind, counterbalanced study.
- Participants consumed either a high CF (HCF; 563 mg) or low CF (LCF; 38 mg) beverage 70 minutes prior to exercise.
- Moderate-intensity cycling exercise (60% peak oxygen uptake for 30 minutes) was performed, followed by cognitive assessments (Stroop task for EF, face-name matching for MF).
Main Results:
- Executive function (EF) showed significant improvement immediately post-exercise in both HCF and LCF conditions.
- However, EF was consistently higher across all time points following HCF consumption compared to LCF, indicating a pre-exercise enhancement.
- Neither HCF consumption nor moderate-intensity exercise led to improvements in memory function (MF) during the experimental period.
Conclusions:
- High cocoa flavanol (HCF) consumption prior to moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can augment exercise-induced enhancements in executive function (EF).
- The study did not find evidence that this combination improves memory function (MF).
- Combining HCF intake with aerobic exercise may offer a beneficial strategy for enhancing EF.
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