Cocoa-flavanols enhance moderate-intensity pulmonary [Formula: see text] kinetics but not exercise tolerance in sedentary middle-aged adults

Daniel G Sadler, Richard Draijer, Claire E Stewart, Helen Jones, Simon Marwood, Dick H J Thijssen, Daniel G Sadler, Richard Draijer, Claire E Stewart, Helen Jones, Simon Marwood, Dick H J Thijssen

Abstract

Introduction: Cocoa flavanols (CF) may exert health benefits through their potent vasodilatory effects, which are perpetuated by elevations in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. These vasodilatory effects may contribute to improved delivery of blood and oxygen (O2) to exercising muscle.

Purpose: Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine how CF supplementation impacts pulmonary O2 uptake ([Formula: see text]) kinetics and exercise tolerance in sedentary middle-aged adults.

Methods: We employed a double-blind cross-over, placebo-controlled design whereby 17 participants (11 male, 6 female; mean ± SD, 45 ± 6 years) randomly received either 7 days of daily CF (400 mg) or placebo (PL) supplementation. On day 7, participants completed a series of 'step' moderate- and severe-intensity exercise tests for the determination of [Formula: see text] kinetics.

Results: During moderate-intensity exercise, the time constant of the phase II [Formula: see text] kinetics ([Formula: see text]) was decreased by 15% in CF as compared to PL (mean ± SD; PL 40 ± 12 s vs. CF 34 ± 9 s, P = 0.019), with no differences in the amplitude of [Formula: see text] (A[Formula: see text]; PL 0.77 ± 0.32 l min-1 vs. CF 0.79 ± 0.34 l min-1, P = 0.263). However, during severe-intensity exercise, [Formula: see text], the amplitude of the slow component ([Formula: see text]) and exercise tolerance (PL 435 ± 58 s vs. CF 424 ± 47 s, P = 0.480) were unchanged between conditions.

Conclusion: Our data show that acute CF supplementation enhanced [Formula: see text] kinetics during moderate-, but not severe-intensity exercise in middle-aged participants. These novel effects of CFs, in this demographic, may contribute to improved tolerance of moderate-activity physical activities, which appear commonly present in daily life.

Trial registration: Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. NCT04370353, 30/04/20 retrospectively registered.

Keywords: Exercise tolerance; Flavanols; Heart rate; Middle-age; Oxygen uptake kinetics.

Conflict of interest statement

Daniel G. Sadler, Claire E. Stewart, Helen Jones, Simon Marwood and Dick H. J. Thijssen had no conflict of interest associated with this manuscript. Richard Draijer is employed by Unilever R & D Vlaardingen, The Netherlands. The results of the study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CONSORT diagram showing the flow of participants through each stage of the randomised trial
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Schematic of experimental design
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Pulmonary V˙O2 and best-fit modelled responses of a representative participant to moderate-intensity exercise following PL (solid black circles) and CF (clear circles) supplementation. τV˙O2 values are displayed for each transition, with the solid grey lines representing the modelled fits
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Pulmonary V˙O2 and best-fit modelled responses to severe-intensity exercise following PL (solid black circles) and CF (clear black circles) supplementation. Panel a Pulmonary V˙O2 responses of a representative participant displayed with associated τV˙O2. Panel b Group mean V˙O2 responses during the rest-to-exercise transition following PL and CF supplementation. Group mean ± SD V˙O2 at limit of exercise tolerance also shown. Solid grey lines represent the modelled fits

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