Effects Of Dark Chocolate On Physiological And Anaerobic Performance On Healthy Females And Males

INTRODUCTION: Theobromine found in dark chocolate (DC) helps with efficient absorption into the blood to help reduce oxidative stress in body and provides several physiological benefits. PURPOSE: To investigate if dark chocolate milk supplementation improves anaerobic sprint performance. METHODS: Twenty healthy participants (males: age: 23.8 ± 1.21 yrs; height: 174.51 ± 5.78 cm; weight: 73.91 ± 9.18 kg; body mass index (BMI): 24.18 ± 2.21 kg·m-2; body fat percent (BF%): 19.18 ± 6.17 %; lean muscle mass percentage: 77.95 ± 6.16 %; females: age: 26.33 ± 4.95 yrs; height: 160.69 ± 5.52 cm; weight: 55.72 ± 7.03 kg; BMI: 21.51 ± 2.02 kg·m-2; BF%: 27.24 ± 3.74 %; lean muscle mass percentage: 69.20 ± 3.70 %)) underwent a randomised single-blinded experimental design and completed 2 trials - DC and white chocolate (WC) . Participants completed a Running Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST, 35 m x 6 sprints) with RPE and HR recorded after 2nd, 4th and 6th sprint. They rested for 4 minutes and continued 2nd RAST. RESULTS: Paired t-test revealed significant differences between trials for 2nd RAST average timings (DC 2nd RAST: 6.43 ± 0.97 s vs WC 2nd RAST: 6.62 ± 1.05 s, p = 0.012); 2nd RAST total effort time (DC 2nd RAST: 38.58 ± 5.82 s vs WC 2nd RAST: 39.72 ± 6.28 s, p = 0.012; within trials for HR (DC 1st RAST HR 6th set: 168.75 ± 7.23 beats·min-1 vs DC 2nd RAST HR 6th set: 176.60 ± 7.72 beats·min-1, p = 0.000; WC 1st RAST HR 6th set: 170.15 ± 9.18 beats·min-1 vs WC 2nd RAST HR 6th set: 173.50 ± 7.92 beats·min-1, p = 0.010); within trials for RPE (DC 1st RPE 6th set: 7.85 ± 1.31 vs DC 2nd RAST RPE 6th set: 8.90 ± 0.97, p = 0.001; WC 1st RAST RPE 6th set: 7.90 ± 1.29 vs WC 2nd RAST RPE 6th set: 8.90 ± 1.17, p = 0.001). There were no significant differences found between DC 1st and 2nd RAST average timings (DC 1st RAST: 6.46 ± 0.98 s vs DC 2nd RAST: 6.43 ± 0.97 s, p = 0.453); WC 1st and 2nd RAST average timings (WC 1st RAST: 6.42 ± 0.77 s vs WC 2nd RAST: 6.62 ± 1.05 s, p = 0.049); DC and WC 1st RAST RPE: (DC 1st RAST RPE: 7.85 ± 1.31 vs WC 1st RAST RPE: 6.42 ± 0.77, p = 0.841); DC and WC 2nd RAST RPE: (DC 2nd RAST RPE: 8.90 ± 0.97 vs WC 2nd RAST RPE: 8.90 ± 1.17, p = 1.000). CONCLUSION: Results indicated that DC supplementation significantly improved anaerobic sprint timings. Elite athletes, sports practitioners and coaches can consider implementing DC prior to training workouts and competitions to enhance sporting performance.