Skin Wellness: Enhanced blood flow and delivery of oxygen and nutrients logically support skin function. So it is not surprising that studies of cocoa flavanols effect on skin wellness reveal significant increases in skin density and thickness, meaningful improvements in skin hydration, and a reduction in both skin roughness and scaling. Clinical trials also demonstrate significant increases in in UV photo protection. Below are publication summaries of clinical studies assessing the impact of cocoa flavanols on skin wellness.
Sep
2017
Eating chocolate can significantly protect the skin from UV light.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
BACKGROUND: Cocoa beans fresh from the tree are exceptionally rich in flavanols. Unfortunately, during conventional chocolate making, this high antioxidant capacity is greatly reduced due to manufacturing processes. AIM: To evaluate the photoprotective potential of chocolate consumption, comparing a conventional dark chocolate to a specially produced chocolate with preserved high flavanol (HF) levels. METHODS: A… Read more »
Jan
2016
Cocoa Flavanol Supplementation Influences Skin Conditions of Photo-Aged Women: A 24-Week Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial.
Journal of Nutrition
BACKGROUND: The consumption of dietary antioxidants is considered to be a good strategy against photo-aging. However, the results of previous clinical trials that investigated the effects of oral consumption of high-flavanol cocoa products on skin photo-aging have been contradictory. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether high-flavanol cocoa supplementation would improve the… Read more »
Feb
2007
Consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa acutely increases microcirculation in human skin.
European Journal of Nutrition
BACKGROUND: Long term cocoa ingestion leads to an increased resistance against UV-induced erythema and a lowered transepidermal water loss. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the acute effects of a single dose of cocoa rich in flavanols on dermal microcirculation. METHODS: In a crossover design study, 10 healthy women ingested a cocoa drink (100 ml)… Read more »
Jun
2006
Long-term ingestion of high flavanol cocoa provides photoprotection against UV-induced erythema and improves skin condition in women.
Journal of Nutrition
Dietary antioxidants contribute to endogenous photoprotection and are important for the maintenance of skin health. In the present study, 2 groups of women consumed either a high flavanol (326 mg/d) or low flavanol (27 mg/d) cocoa powder dissolved in 100 mL water for 12 wk. Epicatechin (61 mg/d) and catechin (20 mg/d) were the major… Read more »
Jun
2005
Antioxidant and membrane effects of procyanidin dimers and trimers isolated from peanut and cocoa.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
The antioxidant and membrane effects of dimer (Dim) and trimer (Trim) procyanidins isolated from cocoa (Theobroma cacao) (B- and C-bonded) and peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) skin (A-bonded) were evaluated in phosphatidyl choline liposomes. When liposomes were oxidized with a steady source of oxidants, the above dimers and trimers inhibited to a similar extent lipid oxidation… Read more »