薬理と治療

Abstract

Objective　The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oral intake of cocoa on cognitive function on healthy Middle–aged and older subjects. Methods　A randomized, placebo–controlled, double–blind, crossover comparative study was conducted on 20 healthy subjects（40–64 years old, 9 men：11 women）. Subjects were given either the test product（14 g of cocoa powder containing 60 mg of cocoa flavanols in 120 mL of hot water）or the control product（placebo powder in hot water）after performing the Japanese version of the Central Nervous Vital Signs（Cognitrax）. The effect on performance in the re–measurement using Cognitrax after 30 minutes test product consumption was evaluated. Results　The results of the Cognitrax test, administered 30 minutes after test products intake, showed significant reductions in overall memory score, verbal memory score, and visual memory score in the control group, but not in the cocoa group, when compared to the results of the pre–food intake test. Comparing the amount of change in each, the cocoa intake group showed significantly suppress the decline and increase compare to the control group for the overall memory score, verbal memory and visual memory score. Conclusions　The results of this study suggest that cocoa containing 60 mg of cacao flavanols has a function that helps maintain composite memory（the ability to remember and recall verbal information such as words and visual information such as shapes）, which is part of the cognitive function of middle–aged and elderly persons.（UMIN–CTR: UMIN000050978）（Jpn Pharmacol Ther 2023；51：1355‒63）