title: Epicatechin, procyanidins, cocoa, and appetite: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2 randomized controlled trials, it was reported that dark chocolate acutely decreased appetite in human subjects, but the authors did not assess the types or concentrations of cocoa compounds that are needed. Other studies have suggested that the cocoa compounds epicatechin and procyanidins may be involved.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to test the hypotheses that, compared with placebo (an alkalized cocoa mixture containing essentially no epicatechin or procyanidins), the following beverages cause a decrease in appetite: 1) a nonalkalized cocoa mixture; 2) epicatechin plus placebo; and 3) procyanidins plus placebo. We measured the concentrations of cocoa compounds in all beverages.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a 4-way randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled trial that was balanced for period and carryover effects in 28 healthy, young-adult men. We also conducted a smaller (n = 14), parallel, secondary randomized trial in which we explored the effects of higher doses of epicatechin and procyanidins. Our primary measure of appetite was ad libitum pizza intake 150 min after beverage ingestion. We used a linear mixed-model analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intakes of beverages with the nonalkalized cocoa mixture that contained 0.6 mg epicatechin, 0.2 mg catechin, and 2.9 mg monomer-decamer procyanidins/kg body weight did not decrease pizza intake significantly (P = 0.29) compared with intake of the placebo. In the smaller secondary trial, a combination of epicatechin and the nonalkalized cocoa mixture that contained 1.6 mg epicatechin/kg body weight significantly decreased pizza intake by 18.7% (P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our nonalkalized cocoa mixture was associated with an acute decrease in food intake only after being supplemented with epicatechin. It is possible that epicatechin at a dose of >1.6 mg/kg body weight, alone or in concert with appropriate catalytic cocoa compounds, may be useful for helping people control their food intakes. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02408289.
authors: Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY jamesg@brooklyn.cuny.edu.
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Greenberg
authors: Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY.
authors: Ryan
authors: R
authors: O'Donnell
authors: Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY.
authors: Miriam
authors: M
authors: Shurpin
authors: Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY.
authors: Dorina
authors: D
authors: Kordunova
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D001069:Appetite Regulation; D001628:Beverages; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D000069956:Chocolate / Q000032:analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D002149:Energy Intake; D057140:Fast Foods; D005511:Food Handling; D019648:Foods, Specialized / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001067:Appetite Depressants; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D002392:Catechin
keywords: appetite; cocoa compounds; epicatechin; food intake; procyanidins; visual analog scales; weight loss