Cocoa Flavanol Supplementation and the Effect on Insulin Resistance in Females Who Are Overweight or Obese: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Simpson, Elizabeth J.; Mendis, Buddhike; Dunlop, Mandy; Schroeter, Hagen; Kwik-Uribe, Catherine; Macdonald, Ian A.

Abstract

There is interest in the impact that dietary interventions can have on preventing the transition from insulin resistance to type 2 diabetes, including a suggestion that the bioactive components of cocoa may enhance fasting insulin sensitivity. However, a role for cocoa flavanols (CF) in reducing insulin resistance in the insulin-stimulated state, an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is unresolved. This study investigated whether CF consumption improved whole-body insulin-mediated glucose uptake (‘M’) in females with overweight/obesity, using a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group design. Thirty-two premenopausal females (19–49 years; 27–35 kg·m−2) with elevated HOMA-IR (HOMA-IR >1.5) supplemented their habitual diet with two servings/day of a high-flavanol cocoa drink (HFC; 609 mg CF/serving; n = 16) or low-flavanol cocoa drink (LFC; 13 mg CF/serving; n = 16) for 4 weeks. Assessment of HOMA-IR and ‘M’ during a 3-h, 60 mIU insulin·m−2·min−1 euglycemic clamp was performed before and after the intervention. Data are the mean (SD). Changes to HOMA-IR (HFC −0.003 (0.57); LFC −0.0402 (0.86)) and ‘M’ (HFC 0.99 (7.62); LFC –1.32 (4.88) µmol·kg−1·min−1) after the intervention were not different between groups. Four weeks’ consumption of ~1.2 g CF/day did not improve indices of fasting insulin sensitivity or insulin-mediated glucose uptake. A recommendation for dietary supplementation with cocoa flavanols to improve glycemic control is therefore not established.

Citation

Simpson, E. J., Mendis, B., Dunlop, M., Schroeter, H., Kwik-Uribe, C., & Macdonald, I. A. (2023). Cocoa Flavanol Supplementation and the Effect on Insulin Resistance in Females Who Are Overweight or Obese: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 15(3), Article 565. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030565

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 15, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jan 21, 2023
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jan 29, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 31, 2023
• Journal: Nutrients
• Electronic ISSN: 2072-6643
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 3
• Article Number: 565
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030565
• Keywords: Food Science; Nutrition and Dietetics
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/16507015
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/3/565