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Background <p>Dark chocolate, rich in flavanols, may support vascular health by reducing arterial stiffness and blood pressure across menstrual phases. This study examined the effects of 85% dark chocolate on nitric oxide (NO) levels and vascular function during high-intensity resistance exercise in healthy women across the early follicular and mid-luteal phases.</p> Methods <p>Thirty-one healthy women (aged 20–30 years) with regular menstrual cycles completed a randomized, crossover study (conducted at National Chung Cheng University, Sep–Dec 2023). Participants consumed either 85% dark chocolate or milk chocolate (1&#xa0;g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2–5) and mid-luteal (days 18–24) phases of two menstrual cycles. Finger-toe pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels were measured at rest, 2&#xa0;h after chocolate consumption (baseline), immediately post-exercise (T0), and at 60 (T60) and 120 (T120) minutes post-exercise.</p> Results <p>Dark chocolate supplementation significantly increased NO levels and reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP), ftPWV, and arterial pressure volume index (API) (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) compared to milk chocolate across both menstrual phases. During the early follicular phase, dark chocolate also attenuated exercise-induced increases in arterial stiffness and blood pressure (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05).</p> Conclusion <p>85% dark chocolate supplementation may reduce the negative vascular effects of high-intensity resistance exercise, particularly by lowering blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and API, especially in the early follicular phase. These findings suggest that dark chocolate could be a practical, non-pharmacological intervention for improving cardiovascular health in women.</p> Trial Registration <p>ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06908941. Registered 19 March 2025 — Retrospectively registered, <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06908941">https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06908941</a>.</p>

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The Cardiovascular Benefits of Dark Chocolate Supplementation before High-Intensity Resistance Exercise in the Early Follicular and Mid-Luteal Phases of the Menstrual Cycle

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月18日

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  • Chun-Wei Wang,
  • Shih-Hua Fang,
  • Tse-An Yu,
  • Liang-You Chen,
  • Chung-Kai Wang,
  • Soun-Cheng Wang,
  • Cheng-Shiun He

摘要

Background

Dark chocolate, rich in flavanols, may support vascular health by reducing arterial stiffness and blood pressure across menstrual phases. This study examined the effects of 85% dark chocolate on nitric oxide (NO) levels and vascular function during high-intensity resistance exercise in healthy women across the early follicular and mid-luteal phases.

Methods

Thirty-one healthy women (aged 20–30 years) with regular menstrual cycles completed a randomized, crossover study (conducted at National Chung Cheng University, Sep–Dec 2023). Participants consumed either 85% dark chocolate or milk chocolate (1 g/kg body weight) before high-intensity resistance exercise during the early follicular (days 2–5) and mid-luteal (days 18–24) phases of two menstrual cycles. Finger-toe pulse wave velocity (ftPWV), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and plasma NO levels were measured at rest, 2 h after chocolate consumption (baseline), immediately post-exercise (T0), and at 60 (T60) and 120 (T120) minutes post-exercise.

Results

Dark chocolate supplementation significantly increased NO levels and reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP), ftPWV, and arterial pressure volume index (API) (p < 0.05) compared to milk chocolate across both menstrual phases. During the early follicular phase, dark chocolate also attenuated exercise-induced increases in arterial stiffness and blood pressure (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

85% dark chocolate supplementation may reduce the negative vascular effects of high-intensity resistance exercise, particularly by lowering blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and API, especially in the early follicular phase. These findings suggest that dark chocolate could be a practical, non-pharmacological intervention for improving cardiovascular health in women.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06908941. Registered 19 March 2025 — Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06908941.