The body of science supporting the potential health benefits of dietary consumption of cocoa flavanols, the polyphenolic substances derived from the cocoa bean, is still growing.
Current scientific evidence suggest that the health beneficial effects of these strong antioxidant components are localized in the fields of heart health, brain function, skin health and even weight management.
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Cognitive function
Better brain performance is promoted by increased cerebral blood flow. A good blood flow brings oxygen and energy to the brain, allowing better performance in terms of memory, concentration etc. The beneficial effects of cocoa flavanols on cerebral blood flow and brain function have been demonstrated in some important recently published human studies. The results of Francis and colleagues (2006) demonstrated that after consumption of a high flavanol cocoa drink, an increased blood flow response was recorded for up to 6 hours after consumption. This means that the cocoa flavanols might acutely affect blood provision to the brain and subsequently can positively affect brain function and cognitive capability.
In a preclinical study, the long-term administration of a cocoa flavanols improved cognitive performance, increased lifespan and preserved high urinary dopamine levels. Dopamine is an essential neurotransmitter enabling smooth, controlled movements as well as efficient memory and attention. These results suggest that cocoa flavanols may be beneficial in retarding age-related brain impairments, including cognitive deficits in neurodegenerative diseases.
Skin health -oral intake
Scientific research and testing have shown that dietary supply of cocoa flavanols has remarkable effects on skin health:
improves dermal blood circulation
increases blood oxygen provision
positively affects cosmetically relevant skin structure and hydration parameters
Skin thickness, skin density, hydration and surface profile are some of the quality parameters of skin condition that were assayed in women consuming on a daily basis 330 mg cocoa flavanols for 12 weeks. Long-term ingestion of cocoa flavanols lead to increased dermal blood flow, increased skin thickness and density, and better skin hydration. Also the skin structure or roughness was influenced significantly. A single-dose acute and positive effect of 330 mg cocoa flavanols was detected on the microcirculation in the human skin and on blood oxygen saturation within 2 hours after ingestion.
Skin health - topical use
Cocoa butter is already widely used as an active excipient in skin care products, however the influence of cocoa flavanols on skin has scarcely been studied from a histological point of view Additional experiments were needed to fully explore the potential of cocoa flavanols, particularly concerning moisturizing and anti-ageing effects. The influence of cocoa flavanols on several indicators of skin elasticity and skin tonus, namely glycosaminoglycans and collagen I, III and IV were studied.
This was done by using a model of ex vivo human skin explants maintained in survival, on which the cocoa flavanols extract was applied. The activity of cocoa flavanols was compared to a commercially available product, and the results obtained show that their efficacy is equivalent. It was shown that cocoa flavanols at 0.5 to 0.75% inclusion exhibit a positive effect on skin structure when applied for at least 5 days. At these doses, the influence on parameters such as GAGs and collagen expression is comparable to (or better, in the case of collagen I) than a commercially available anti-ageing cream.
Weight management
Obesity is associated with an array of metabolic disorders which most probably find their origin in an increased oxidative stress and/or subchronic inflammation. Given the well established anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of cocoa polyphenols, it would be of great interest to examine their benefits in reducing the risk of obesity associated metabolic disorders.
By contrast to the large number of studies dealing with the anti-oxidant power of cocoa flavanols, few have examined their potential anti-obesity effect.
Very promising results were obtained in a preclinical study with cocoa flavanols to evaluate the anti-obesity effect in females on a high-fat diet. The cocoa extract displayed an anti-obesity effect by limiting significantly the body weight gain of the animals, without affecting food and water consumption and by significantly reducing the gain in fat mass. Additional measurements on liver samples found the hypothesis of a higher catabolims of fat.