title: Dark chocolate supplementation reduces the oxygen cost of moderate intensity cycling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dark chocolate (DC) is abundant in flavanols which have been reported to increase the bioavailability and bioactivity of nitric oxide (NO). Increasing NO bioavailability has often demonstrated reduced oxygen cost and performance enhancement during submaximal exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine moderately-trained male participants volunteered to undertake baseline (BL) measurements that comprised a cycle V̇O(2max) test followed by cycling at 80% of their established gas exchange threshold (GET) for 20-min and then immediately followed by a two-minute time-trial (TT). Using a randomised crossover design participants performed two further trials, two weeks apart, with either 40 g of DC or white chocolate (WC) being consumed daily. Oxygen consumption, RER, heart rate and blood lactate (BLa) were measured during each trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DC consumption increased GET and TT performance compared to both BL and WC (P < 0.05). DC consumption increased V̇O(2max) by 6% compared to BL (P < 0.05), but did not reach statistical significance compared to WC. There were no differences in the moderate-intensity cycling for V̇O₂, RER, BLa and heart rate between conditions, although, V̇O₂ and RER exhibited consistently lower trends following DC consumption compared to BL and WC, these did not reach statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic supplementation with DC resulted in a higher GET and enhanced TT performance. Consequently, ingestion of DC reduced the oxygen cost of moderate intensity exercise and may be an effective ergogenic aid for short-duration moderate intensity exercise.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE UK.
authors.forename: Rishikesh Kankesh
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE UK.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brouner
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE UK.
authors.forename: Owen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Spendiff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D027461:Beta vulgaris; D001642:Bicycling; D002099:Cacao; D002182:Candy; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D064133:Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations; D019344:Lactic Acid
keywords: Flavanols; Gas exchange threshold; High-intensity; Time trial