Cocoa polyphenols enhance positive mood states but not cognitive performance a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the acute and sub-chronic effects of cocoa polyphenols on cognition and mood. In a randomized, double-blind study, healthy middle-aged participants received a dark chocolate drink mix standardized to contain 500 mg, 250 mg or 0 mg of polyphenols (placebo) in a parallel-groups design. Participants consumed their assigned treatment once daily for 30 days. Cognition was measured with the Cognitive Drug Research system and self-rated mood with the Bond-Lader Visual Analogue Scale. Participants were tested at baseline, at 1, 2.5 and 4 h after a single acute dose and again after receiving 30 days of treatment. In total, 72 participants completed the trial. After 30 days, the high dose of treatment significantly increased self-rated calmness and contentedness relative to placebo. Mood was unchanged by treatment acutely while cognition was unaffected by treatment at all time points. This randomized controlled trial is perhaps the first to demonstrate the positive effects of cocoa polyphenols on mood in healthy participants. This provides a rationale for exploring whether cocoa polyphenols can ameliorate the symptoms associated with clinical anxiety or depression.
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High flavonoid intake through vegetables and fruits helps lower the risk of depression.
“Epidemiological studies [12,13] and clinical studies [14,15] have also reported that high flavonoid intake through vegetables and fruits helps lower the risk of depression.”
From Flavonoid-rich orange juice intake and altered gut microbiome in young adults with depressive symptom: a randomized controlled study (2020) · cites this paper as [14]
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- Authors
- Pase, M. P., Scholey, A. B., Pipingas, A., Kras, M., Nolidin, K., Gibbs, A., Wesnes, K., & Stough, C.
- Affiliations
- Swinburne University of Technology (AU)
- Venue
- Journal of Psychopharmacology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-01-29
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 451-458
- ISSN
- 0269-8811 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7285
- OpenAlex
- W2040408686
- Cited by
- 154
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 10
- FWCI
- 11.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Swinburne figshare (Swinburne University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food Chemistry and Fat Analysis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Coffee research and impacts
- Keywords
- cocoa polyphenols, dark chocolate, mood, cognitive performance, acute effects, anxiety, depression, healthy middle-aged adults
- MeSH terms
- Affect, Beverages, Cacao, Cognition, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychomotor Performance, Polyphenols
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