Effects of chocolate on cognitive function and mood: a systematic review

Scholey, Andrew; Owen, Lauren

doi:10.1111/nure.12065

Cited by 93 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 95 publications

(195 reference statements)

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“…This review concluded that there are measurable neurocognitive effects with acute administration of cocoa flavanols, caffeine, and theobromine, in isolation and in combination, and suggested that some effects of chocolate and chocolate components could be due to attenuation of negative mood. Furthermore, the review pointed out that the dosing periods of the enrolled studies varied from 5 days to 6 weeks, and it was hypothesized that the lack of positive outcomes was related to possible methodological limitations [29]. Three other randomized controlled trials were published after this systematic review.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The authors found that 3 out of the 8 studies that met the criteria for inclusion revealed evidence for cognitive enhancement following cocoa flavanols and methylxanthine intake [29]. All studies examined the cognitive effects of potentially psychoactive fractions of chocolate: 5 studies focused on cocoa flavanol fractions of cocoa [5][6][7]9, 10] and 3 (from two articles) on combinations of the methylxanthines, caffeine, and theobromine [30,31].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regarding human studies, the effects of chocolate/cocoa administration on cognition were systematically reviewed by Scholey et al in 2013. The authors found that 3 out of the 8 studies that met the criteria for inclusion revealed evidence for cognitive enhancement following cocoa flavanols and methylxanthine intake [29].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chocolate Consumption is Associated with a Lower Risk of Cognitive Decline

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Diógenes

Mendonça

et al. 2016

JAD

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Abstract. Cocoa-related products like chocolate have taken an important place in our food habits and culture. In this work, we aim to examine the relationship between chocolate consumption and cognitive decline in an elderly cognitively healthy population. In the present longitudinal prospective study, a cohort of 531 participants aged 65 and over with normal MiniMental State Examination (MMSE; median 28) was selected. The median follow-up was 48 months. Dietary habits were evaluated at baseline. The MMSE was used to assess global cognitive function at baseline and at follow-up. Cognitive decline was defined by a decrease ≥ 2 points in the MMSE score between evaluations. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) estimates were adjusted for age, education, smoking, alcohol drinking, body mass index, hypertension, and diabetes. Chocolate intake was associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline (RR = 0.59, 95%CI 0.38-0.92). This protective effect was observed only among subjects with an average daily consumption of caffeine lower than 75 mg (69% of the participants; RR = 0.50, 95%CI 0.31-0.82). To our knowledge, this is the first prospective cohort study to show an inverse association between regular long-term chocolate consumption and cognitive decline in humans.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chocolate Consumption is Associated with a Lower Risk of Cognitive Decline

Moreira

Diógenes

Mendonça

et al. 2016

JAD

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“…Rafnsson et al 2013 [24] Systematic review III-3 Two dietary intake studies of 342 and 1640 elderly participants for 3 and 10 years assessing the effects of flavonoids on cognitive decline, found a lower rate of cognitive decline with increased intake and no association respectively. Scholey and Owen 2013 [26] Systematic review II One RCT of 101 participants, ≥ 60 years of age and 6 weeks duration found no difference in cognitive performance following consumption of a chocolate bar (397mg proanthocyanins) and cocoa drink (357mg proanthocyanins) compared to placebo. …”

Section: Polyphenolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary interventions as a neuroprotective therapy for the delay of the onset of cognitive decline in older adults: Evaluation of the evidence

Krause

Roupas²

2017

FFHD

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Background:The relationship between nutrition and cognitive functioning is unclear, especially in elderly populations as many elderly people with cognitive impairment have low blood levels of some nutrients even in the absence of malnourishment. The objective of this review was to assess the evidence from systematic reviews of human studies on the effectiveness of dietary interventions as monotherapies in delaying the onset of cognitive decline in older adults. Scope and approach:Evidence-based methodologies were used to gather and assess the highest levels of evidence that evaluated the effects of administration of any dose of the individual dietary interventions as neuroprotective agents for any duration. The search strategy was designed to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses published from 1990 to December 2015. There were no language restrictions as part of the inclusion criteria. Key Findings and Conclusions:This review provides the current state of knowledge from systematic reviews on the effects on cognition of acetyl-L-carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid, choline, inositol compounds, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and polyphenols, which are all commonly studied nutrients for neurocognitive effects. A critical evaluation of the current evidence from systematic reviews indicated that there are no clinically-relevant effects from supplementation with these nutrients on delaying the onset of cognitive decline in older adults.

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“…También hay evidencias del efecto beneficioso de ciertos nutrientes como la vitamina D y los flavonoides sobre el estado mental (9)(10)(11). El chocolate es un alimento con gran contenido en flavonoides y metilxantinas.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Consumo habitual de chocolate y estado cognitivo en los adultos mayores españoles

et al. 2017

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Palabras clave:Chocolate. Demencia. Défi cit cognitivo leve. Ancianos. ResumenAntecedentes: estudios previos han encontrado que el consumo de fl avonoides se asocia a menor riesgo de deterioro cognitivo. Sin embargo, el efecto del consumo habitual de chocolate sobre el estado cognitivo no está bien esclarecido. Objetivo: examinar si el consumo habitual de chocolate se asocia con un mejor estado cognitivo en adultos mayores españoles. Metodología: estudio transversal, utilizando datos del estudio ENRICA-Senior. El consumo habitual de chocolate fue evaluado con una historia dietética informatizada. Los participantes fueron divididos en las siguientes categorías, de acuerdo a su consumo de chocolate: sin consumo, < 10 g/d y ≥ 10 g/d. El estado cognitivo fue determinado mediante la versión del test Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) para España. Los puntos de corte para defi nir deterioro cognitivo leve (DCL) fueron: ≤ 25, ≤ 24 y ≤ 23. Se utilizaron modelos de regresión lineal y logística ajustados por los principales factores confusores para calcular coefi cientes beta y odds ratios (OR) de asociación. Resultados: en comparación con el grupo de personas que no reportaron consumir chocolate, aquellos con un consumo habitual de ≥ 10 g/d obtuvieron una mayor puntuación en el MMSE (coefi ciente beta e intervalo de confi anza al 95% [IC 95%] del modelo ajustado: 0,26 [0,02-0,50]; p de tendencia lineal = 0,05). Cuando examinamos la asociación solo con chocolate negro, los resultados también fueron signifi cativos (coefi ciente beta: 0,48 [IC 95%: 0,18-0,78]; p de tendencia lineal < 0,001). El consumo de chocolate total no se asoció con DCL en ninguna de las defi niciones propuestas. Sin embargo, el consumo de chocolate negro se asoció con menor probabilidad de DCL (OR e IC 95% para MMSE Conclusión: estos resultados sugieren que puede existir una asociación entre consumo de chocolate y mejor función cognitiva en personas mayores. Key words:Chocolate. Dementia. Mild cognitive impairment. Elderly. AbstractBackground: There are associations described between dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and foods with a high content of polyphenols. Objective: To assess the infl uence of habitual chocolate consumption over the MMSE in Spanish older adults. Methodology: Cross-sectional study, using data of the follow-up of the Seniors-Study on Nutrition and Cardiovascular Risk in Spain (ENRICA) cohort. Habitual chocolate consumption in the last year was assessed with a computerized dietary history; differences between dark chocolate and milk chocolate were recorded. Chocolate intake was classifi ed into the following categories: no consumption, < 10 g/day, and ≥ 10 g/day. Validated MMSE scores for Spain were obtained during an interview and different cutoff points were used to defi ne ≤ 25, ≤ 24 and ≤ 23. Linear and logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted beta coeffi cients and odds ratios (OR).

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Effects of chocolate on cognitive function and mood: a systematic review

Cited by 93 publications

References 95 publications

Chocolate Consumption is Associated with a Lower Risk of Cognitive Decline

Chocolate Consumption is Associated with a Lower Risk of Cognitive Decline

Dietary interventions as a neuroprotective therapy for the delay of the onset of cognitive decline in older adults: Evaluation of the evidence

Consumo habitual de chocolate y estado cognitivo en los adultos mayores españoles

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