To investigate the effects of flavanol-rich cacao extract on healthy middle-aged women’s fatigue and mood conditions, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in women aged 40–60 years who had reported fatigue and had shown high levels of a serum oxidative stress marker. We randomized the participants (n = 60) into equal groups receiving either a beverage containing cacao flavanols (240 mg/200 mL/day) or a placebo for 8 weeks. Before and after the 8-week treatment, we determined the participants’ Chalder fatigue scale (CFS) scores, various mood states, autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity levels, and their ANS balance. The results demonstrated that among the mood states, the indicators of negative mood (e.g., depression, fatigue, and anger) and the total mood disturbance score were significantly lower in the cacao group compared to the placebo group after the treatment (p < 0.05). The change in the index of positive mood (i.e., vigor) from baseline to 8 weeks was significantly higher in the cacao group versus the placebo group (p < 0.05). There were no significant between-group differences in the changes in the CFS score or ANS activity level. The consumption of flavanol-rich cacao extract both suppressed negative moods and promoted positive moods in healthy middle-aged women. These results suggest that cacao flavanols may be a useful food material that can improve variable mood conditions in middle-aged women and support their active lives.

Cacao polyphenol-enriched dark chocolate may have beneficial effects on human health, such as facilitating maintaining good performance in long-lasting cognitive tasks. This study examined the effects of dark chocolate intake on improving brain function during cognitive tasks using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In this randomized, single-blinded, crossover, and dose-comparison study, 26 healthy middle-aged participants ingested dark chocolate (25 g) either with a low concentration (LC) (211.7 mg) or a high concentration (HC) (635 mg) of cacao polyphenols. Thereafter, their brain activities were analyzed during continuous and effortful cognitive tasks relevant to executive functioning using fMRI in two consecutive 15 min sessions (25 and 50 min after ingestion). We observed significant interaction effects between chocolate consumption and brain activity measurement sessions in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left inferior parietal lobule. After HC chocolate ingestion, these areas showed lower brain activity in the second session than in the first session; however, these areas showed higher activity in the second session after LC chocolate ingestion. These results suggest that cacao polyphenol-enriched dark chocolate enhances the efficient use of cognitive resources by reducing the effort of brain activity.

Background/Objectives: Research suggests that diet influences oxidative stress status in pregnant women and is related to their stress and depressive symptoms. This study aimed to investigate how maternal diet during late pregnancy affects oxidative stress status, maternal stress, depression, and fetal physical development. Methods: This study included 58 mother–child pairs. Dietary intake, depressive symptoms, and clinical information were obtained through questionnaires and clinical records. Maternal and cord blood concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), paraoxonase-1, platelet activating factor-acetylhydrolase, and cortisol were measured using spectrophotometric and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Maternal serum MDA levels were inversely associated with nut consumption (β = −0.40, p = 0.01) and positively associated with vitamin B2 (β = 2.43, p = 0.04) and manganese intake (β = 0.44, p = 0.02). Fruit consumption was positively associated with Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score (β = 0.35, p = 0.03). Intakes of beans (β = −3.37, p = 0.04), vitamin B1 (β = −738.92, p = 0.04), vitamin B6 (β = −562.21, p = 0.04), vitamin C (β = −4.75, p = 0.009), iron (β = −106.63, p = 0.03), and copper (β = −863.31, p = 0.01) were inversely associated with maternal serum cortisol level, whereas dairy intake (β = 1.45, p = 0.003) showed a positive association. Cord plasma cortisol levels were inversely associated with the consumption of other vegetables (β = −2.89, p = 0.02). Conclusions: The findings encourage further research towards the refinement of dietary guidelines for pregnant women and recommendations for expecting mothers.

Background: Evidence on food-based strategies to maintain muscle-related body composition in older adults under habitual lifestyle conditions is limited. Cacao flavanols may influence vascular and redox pathways, whereas milk protein provides amino acids relevant to muscle protein synthesis. We examined whether daily high-cacao chocolate, alone or with a protein-enriched milk beverage, affected body composition in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This exploratory 16-week randomized, open-label, parallel-group trial included adults aged 60–79 years. Participants were allocated 1:1:1 to no intake (NI), high-cacao chocolate (HC; 15 g/day), or HC plus a protein-enriched milk beverage (HC+MILK; 200 mL/day). Body composition was assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) at baseline, week 8, and week 16. Longitudinal models evaluated observed values and changes from baseline, and pairwise comparisons were adjusted using Tukey’s method. The per-protocol set was the primary efficacy population. Results: Of 240 randomized participants, 219 were included in the per-protocol set (NI, 76; HC, 72; HC+MILK, 71). At week 16, soft lean mass changed by − 0.24, + 0.21, and + 0.25 kg in NI, HC, and HC+MILK, respectively. Compared with NI, the change was + 0.45 kg with HC (95% CI 0.06 to 0.83; P = 0.015) and + 0.49 kg with HC+MILK (0.10 to 0.88; P = 0.005). Fat-free mass, skeletal muscle mass, and skeletal muscle index showed consistent significant differences versus NI, whereas HC+MILK did not differ from HC. No intervention-specific effect was observed for physical-function outcomes, and no product-related adverse events occurred. Conclusions: Over 16 weeks, HC and HC+MILK showed statistically significant favorable changes in BIA-derived muscle-related indices compared with NI, without a clear incremental benefit of adding MILK. These findings suggest a potential benefit for maintaining BIA-estimated muscle mass under habitual activity conditions, although the clinical relevance remains uncertain because no intervention-specific functional benefit was detected and changes in exercise type and intensity were not assessed comprehensively. Trial registration: UMIN000054576 (June 6, 2024).