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Sasaki A, Kawai E, Watanabe K, Yamano E, Oba C, Nakamura K, Natsume M, Mizuno K, Watanabe Y. Cacao Polyphenol-Rich Dark Chocolate Intake Contributes to Efficient Brain Activity during Cognitive Tasks: A Randomized, Single-Blinded, Crossover, and Dose-Comparison fMRI Study. Nutrients 2023; 16:41. [PMID: 38201871 PMCID: PMC10780455 DOI: 10.3390/nu16010041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cacao polyphenol-enriched dark chocolate may have beneficial effects on human health, such as facilitating maintaining good performance in long-lasting cognitive tasks. This study examined the effects of dark chocolate intake on improving brain function during cognitive tasks using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In this randomized, single-blinded, crossover, and dose-comparison study, 26 healthy middle-aged participants ingested dark chocolate (25 g) either with a low concentration (LC) (211.7 mg) or a high concentration (HC) (635 mg) of cacao polyphenols. Thereafter, their brain activities were analyzed during continuous and effortful cognitive tasks relevant to executive functioning using fMRI in two consecutive 15 min sessions (25 and 50 min after ingestion). We observed significant interaction effects between chocolate consumption and brain activity measurement sessions in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left inferior parietal lobule. After HC chocolate ingestion, these areas showed lower brain activity in the second session than in the first session; however, these areas showed higher activity in the second session after LC chocolate ingestion. These results suggest that cacao polyphenol-enriched dark chocolate enhances the efficient use of cognitive resources by reducing the effort of brain activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Sasaki
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (E.K.); (K.W.); (E.Y.); (K.M.); (Y.W.)
- RIKEN Compass to Healthy Life Research Complex Program, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
- Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-1 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka, Japan
| | - Eriko Kawai
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (E.K.); (K.W.); (E.Y.); (K.M.); (Y.W.)
- Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-1 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kyosuke Watanabe
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (E.K.); (K.W.); (E.Y.); (K.M.); (Y.W.)
- RIKEN Compass to Healthy Life Research Complex Program, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
- Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-1 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka, Japan
| | - Emi Yamano
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (E.K.); (K.W.); (E.Y.); (K.M.); (Y.W.)
- RIKEN Compass to Healthy Life Research Complex Program, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
- Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-1 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chisato Oba
- Food Microbiology Research Laboratories, R&D Division, Meiji Co., Ltd., 1-29-1 Nanakuni, Hachioji 192-0919, Tokyo, Japan; (K.N.); (M.N.)
| | - Kentaro Nakamura
- Food Microbiology Research Laboratories, R&D Division, Meiji Co., Ltd., 1-29-1 Nanakuni, Hachioji 192-0919, Tokyo, Japan; (K.N.); (M.N.)
| | - Midori Natsume
- Food Microbiology Research Laboratories, R&D Division, Meiji Co., Ltd., 1-29-1 Nanakuni, Hachioji 192-0919, Tokyo, Japan; (K.N.); (M.N.)
| | - Kei Mizuno
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (E.K.); (K.W.); (E.Y.); (K.M.); (Y.W.)
- RIKEN Compass to Healthy Life Research Complex Program, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
- Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-1 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yasuyoshi Watanabe
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (E.K.); (K.W.); (E.Y.); (K.M.); (Y.W.)
- RIKEN Compass to Healthy Life Research Complex Program, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
- Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-1 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka, Japan
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