Role of Flavanols in Exercise and Aging

University of Texas at Austin20 enrolled

Overview

It has well known that diets rich in fruits, vegetables and cocoa products are associated with positive health benefits and these positive effects have been shown to be due to compounds they contain called flavanols. Flavanols have been shown to exert their positive effects by indirectly increasing nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. NO is a potent vasodilator that is believed to play a role in increasing blood flow to active muscle during exercise. This regulatory process is impaired with healthy aging. The underlying premise to this study is that if NO bioavailability can be increased following flavanol ingestion, will there be a restoration of blood flow during exercise in older individuals? Accordingly, the first part of this research project will compare the acute vascular effects of flavanol ingestion between a young and old group. The investigators have hypothesized that both groups will show an improvement in blood flow to active muscle during exercise, though the magnitude of the change will be greater in the older group. The second part of this project will look at the effects of 4 weeks of daily flavanol ingestion in the old group. The investigators hypothesize that subjects will demonstrate an improvement in blood flow to active muscle during exercise after the 4 week intervention and that the magnitude of the change will be greater than the acute effects. Findings from this proposal will provide evidence for the efficacy of flavanols to be used (as a simple and safe lifestyle intervention) to reverse or combat impaired blood flow regulation in older individuals.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Interventions

High Flavanol TrialDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

The experimental trial (high flavanol content) will involve the consumption of a beverage containing about 1000mg of cocoa flavanols.

Low Flavanol TrialDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

The placebo trial (low flavanol content) will involve the consumption of a beverage containing 75 mg of cocoa flavanols.

High Flavanol Trial; long-termDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

The experimental trial (high flavanol content) will involve the daily consumption of a beverage containing about 1000mg of cocoa flavanols for 4 weeks. Subjects will be provided with 28 packets of the beverage to take home with them.

Low Flavanol Trial; long-term effectsDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

The placebo trial (low flavanol content) will involve the daily consumption of a beverage containing 75 mg of cocoa flavanols for 4 weeks. Subjects will be provided with 28 packets to take home with them.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 80 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Males and Females between 18 - 30 years old * Males and Females between 60 - 80 years old Exclusion Criteria: * cardiovascular and/or microvascular disease * blood clotting disorder * pregnant lady * current smoker (or regularly smoked within last year) * a history of an adverse reaction to cold * taking medications known to effect the autonomic nervous system

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in femoral blood flow during exercise following flavanol consumption

Blood flow regulation to active muscles during knee extension exercise can be assessed by using ultrasound to measure blood flow in the femoral artery. This will be done before and after stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. A baseline value will be obtained and then the measurement will be performed again 2 hours after flavanol ingestion.

Time frame: During knee extension exercise, change from baseline in blood flow 2 hours post flavanol ingestion

Secondary Outcomes

Change in flow-mediated dilation (FMD) following flavanol consumption

Flow-mediated dilation is commonly used as an index of nitric oxide bioavailability. Nitric oxide is believed to play a role in blood flow regulation during exercise. A baseline value will be obtained and then the measurement will be performed again 2 hours after flavanol ingestion.

Time frame: Change from baseline in FMD 2 hours post flavanol ingestion