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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.

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


Authors

Elizabeth J. Simpson

Buddhike Mendis

Mandy Dunlop

Hagen Schroeter

Catherine Kwik-Uribe

Ian A. Macdonald



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 Mar 28, 2024
Journal Nutrients
Electronic ISSN 2072-6643
Publisher MDPI AG
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