Response of VO2max to dark chocolate consumption in healthy subjects: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Abstract The potential role of dark chocolate (DC) in enhancing exercise performance remains underexplored. While DC has been associated with various health benefits, its specific impact on endurance performance, particularly VO2max, has not been conclusively established. This meta‐analysis examined...
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Wiley
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Physiological Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70256 |
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| author | Aref Mehdipour Saber Saedmocheshi Giuseppe Potrick Stefani Ehsan Amiri Diako Heidary |
| author_facet | Aref Mehdipour Saber Saedmocheshi Giuseppe Potrick Stefani Ehsan Amiri Diako Heidary |
| author_sort | Aref Mehdipour |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The potential role of dark chocolate (DC) in enhancing exercise performance remains underexplored. While DC has been associated with various health benefits, its specific impact on endurance performance, particularly VO2max, has not been conclusively established. This meta‐analysis examined the effect of DC on VO2max in healthy individuals using PRISMA guidelines. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 144 participants were included, with VO2max as the primary outcome. The meta‐analysis revealed no significant effect of DC on VO2max (SMD = 0.14, 95% CI: −0.16 to 0.44, p = 0.36). Heterogeneity among the studies was low (Q‐value = 3.34, I2 = 0.00, p = 0.50), and sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the findings, as excluding individual studies did not alter the results (SMD = 0.14, 95% CI: −0.16 to 0.44, p = 0.36). In conclusion, this meta‐analysis suggests that DC consumption does not significantly improve VO2max in healthy individuals. Future research should explore the effects of DC on other aspects of exercise performance, as well as its long‐term impact, to better understand its potential role in athletic and health‐related outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1218b5fc8af44d72ae4e16665a99f1e4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2051-817X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physiological Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-1218b5fc8af44d72ae4e16665a99f1e42025-08-20T03:07:27ZengWileyPhysiological Reports2051-817X2025-03-01135n/an/a10.14814/phy2.70256Response of VO2max to dark chocolate consumption in healthy subjects: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trialsAref Mehdipour0Saber Saedmocheshi1Giuseppe Potrick Stefani2Ehsan Amiri3Diako Heidary4Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Kurdistan Sanandaj IranDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Kurdistan Sanandaj IranResearch Group in Olympic Studies (GPEO), School of Health and Life Sciences Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre BrazilDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Kurdistan Sanandaj IranDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences Allameh Tabataba'i University Tehran IranAbstract The potential role of dark chocolate (DC) in enhancing exercise performance remains underexplored. While DC has been associated with various health benefits, its specific impact on endurance performance, particularly VO2max, has not been conclusively established. This meta‐analysis examined the effect of DC on VO2max in healthy individuals using PRISMA guidelines. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 144 participants were included, with VO2max as the primary outcome. The meta‐analysis revealed no significant effect of DC on VO2max (SMD = 0.14, 95% CI: −0.16 to 0.44, p = 0.36). Heterogeneity among the studies was low (Q‐value = 3.34, I2 = 0.00, p = 0.50), and sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the findings, as excluding individual studies did not alter the results (SMD = 0.14, 95% CI: −0.16 to 0.44, p = 0.36). In conclusion, this meta‐analysis suggests that DC consumption does not significantly improve VO2max in healthy individuals. Future research should explore the effects of DC on other aspects of exercise performance, as well as its long‐term impact, to better understand its potential role in athletic and health‐related outcomes.https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70256aerobic exercisecocoaexercise trainingoxygen consumption |
| spellingShingle | Aref Mehdipour Saber Saedmocheshi Giuseppe Potrick Stefani Ehsan Amiri Diako Heidary Response of VO2max to dark chocolate consumption in healthy subjects: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials Physiological Reports aerobic exercise cocoa exercise training oxygen consumption |
| title | Response of VO2max to dark chocolate consumption in healthy subjects: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_full | Response of VO2max to dark chocolate consumption in healthy subjects: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_fullStr | Response of VO2max to dark chocolate consumption in healthy subjects: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Response of VO2max to dark chocolate consumption in healthy subjects: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_short | Response of VO2max to dark chocolate consumption in healthy subjects: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| title_sort | response of vo2max to dark chocolate consumption in healthy subjects a systematic review and meta analysis of randomized controlled trials |
| topic | aerobic exercise cocoa exercise training oxygen consumption |
| url | https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70256 |
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