High Cocoa Polyphenol Rich Chocolate in Reducing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Essay Example

? Critique of a Journal Health Science and Medicine 7 July The everlastingly increasing rate of modern life doesnot allow people to ponder about the quality of consumed products a lot and with sufficient attention. Most often due to an active lifestyle, individuals prefer fast meals and easily cooked items that economize the time but can be a solid ground for health problems. However, not many of us care about healthy ration meanwhile millions of people all over the world suffer serious diseases because of excessive consumption of harmful foodstuff. Currently uninterrupted development of food assortment, changes of preferences in food and implementation of new technological processes of production, storage and selling of food items are spreading in food industry with considerable speed1. Manufactures keep on increasing the quantity of various chemical compounds added to their products. The food can be the source of not only energy required for the human organism but also the carrier of significant number of dangerous chemical agents that are added to products during the process of production, transportation or storage of the goods. Frequently watchfulness and attention of potential consumers regarding the perilous influence of specific food items are decreased with the help of distracting factors, such as bright and colourful package, unusual shape of the product and offered profitable discounts, which persuade customers to eat harmful food. In the conditions of horrific raise of health problems, the main task of scientists is to detect precisely those products that are able to cause favourable impact on human health for raising people’s awareness with specific illnesses about such food items’ healing characteristics. Hence, a lot of the studies have been made on the list of harmful products, for example, such as fast food, mayonnaise, sweet soda water, French fries, convenience food, microwave popcorn or brown sugar and others2. However, not much research has been carried out on positive effect of such ambiguous product as chocolate that is proclaimed to cause obesity and excessive burden on heart meanwhile Sathyapalan et al. make an attempt to prove favourable impact of the rational consumption of chocolate with high cocoa polyphenol on the condition of fatigue. It is fair to mention that there is no generally accepted definition of fatigue, however, in most literary works, it can be interpreted as “a combination of symptoms including: impaired performance (loss of attentiveness, slower reaction times, impaired judgment, poorer performance on skilled control tasks and increased probability of falling asleep) and subjective feelings of drowsiness or tiredness”3. The problem of fatigue syndrome is extremely important since it leads to such negative consequences as decreased concentration of the person, aggravated functions of memory, slow response and reaction, enhanced irritability and depressions, high somnolence, frequent changes of mood, sharper susceptibility to the influence of alcohol and high risks of diseases. Fatigue is able to impact not only human body but also mind and emotional condition; therefore, it is imperative to find the solutions of this problem, one of which refers to the issues of apposite diet4. According to the numerous studies, it has been found out that chocolate contains such useful compounds as polyphenol and flavanols. Polyphenol is a powerful natural antioxidant. It is contained in apples, vegetables, pomegranate juice, cranberries and grapes5. Polyphenol increases the resistibility of blood vessels, improves the blood circulation and serves as a fundamental element required for the maintenance of skin tissues. The polyphenolic compounds include flavanoids that represent the most common group of plant pigments. In a great quantity, flavanoids are met in citrus plants, berries and fruits, onion, green tea, red wine, dark sorts of beer, sea-buckthorn and chocolate. In fact, “cocoa beans contain higher concentrations of antioxidants than many fruits”6. It is considered that flavanoids play crucial role in the medical treatment of a person with cardiovascular disease. In addition, it has been proved that flavanoids secure cells from oxidative stress that is able to exacerbate the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Taking into account the significant influence of diet on human health and flavonoid’s effect on such severe conditions as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and osteoporosis, Sathyapalan et al. decided to study the correlation between chocolate rich in high cocoa polyphenol and the appearance and exacerbation of chronic fatigue syndrome. It is important to stress that despite numerous studies of various scientists that underline the focal impact of food items on human body, the topic of positive effects of the chocolate has not received sufficient attention. In this respect, the authors of the article “High cocoa polyphenol rich chocolate may reduce the burden of the symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome” research two types of chocolate and their influence on residual function in subjects with CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) with the help of statistical methods. The ultimate objective of randomized controlled trials of the research is to prove the positive changes of the statistical indicators under the influence of the consumption of high cocoa chocolate in a specific doze. The major statement of the authors is that polyphenol rich chocolate is able to improve the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome in contrast to cocoa liquor free chocolate that deteriorates initial indices. The biggest unfavourable consequence of the chronic fatigue syndrome is that it weakens the human organism and increases morbidity, which in its turn negatively affects the quality of life. The problem of recurring fatigue has been suggested to cure with the help of antidepressants and exercise therapy; however, the findings do not always show positive tendencies7. Therefore, the new sources of medical treatment are required. As it has been already mentioned previously, due to the mixture of polyphenols, “clinical trials have indicated that cocoa-derived products are able to reduce some factors involved in the risk of cardiovascular disease: high blood pressure, excessive platelet activation, and high LDL concentration and oxidation, among others”8. Experiments with the chocolate consumption have revealed its ability to reduce risks of strokes. It is fair to stress that useful role of the chocolate had been discovered long time ago; especially abundance of proteins always had significant value for maintaining energy as it had been mentioned by Aztecs9. Chocolate is able to enhance anandamide that is a biologically active compound produced in the brain. Anandamide is connected with the same receptors in the brain that the cannabinoids contained in hemp get in touch with. That is why anandamide has taken its name from Sanskrit which is translated as “bliss or ideal happiness”10. Anandamide is a neuroregulator that takes part in the mechanism of pain intensification, depression, appetite, memory, reproductive functions and increases the steadiness of the heart to reperfusion. Taking into account all these aspects, Sathyapalan et al. claim that chocolate regulates neurotransmitters, which in its turn decrease the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. For the research, ten individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome have been chosen. They all confirmed their agreement for the experiment in a written form. According to the Chalder Fatigue Scale, their indices were at least 10 out of 11. All participants of the experiment followed special recommendations before study entry. Their psychiatric condition has been estimated due to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; in addition, individuals were not supposed to take any antidepressants or herbal remedies11. The selected subjects had to be able to visit doctors for the tests according to the preliminary elaborated schedule. For the experiment, two types of products have been selected. The first one was a chocolate cocoa percentage of which totalled 85%. Another chocolate samples were cocoa liquor free and iso-calorific bars. Both samples had the same colour and were wrapped in a standard undistinguishable foil package. It is fair to mention that before the treatments, individuals were supposed to take part in a taste trial to make sure that they were not able to detect exactly which type of the chocolate they consumed. This ensured objectivity of the further results. The main condition of the study was a prescription for the individuals to consume 15 g bars of high cocoa polyphenol rich chocolate three times a day during 8 weeks. After this, there was a two-week period of rest followed by another 8 weeks of consumption of another type of chocolate that contained low level of polyphenols. After each phase, all subjects had been checked with the help of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Participants were supposed to fill in self-report questionnaires that had been analysed carefully to detect how exactly the consumed dozes of different chocolate bars affected the indices of fatigue12. During the entire process of experiment, dieticians kept on with their observations and tests to monitor that the required doze of the chocolate had been consumed and its consumption did not exceed the allowed level. It is crucial to stress that both chocolate samples contained approximately the same number of kilocalories and proteins. Also their glycaemic indexes almost matched, which made impossible for the individuals to distinguish two products. Providently, the scientists carried out the micro analyses on the chocolate samples to make sure that there were no any bacteria. The authors of the article used both qualitative and quantitative methods for their research. Along with questionnaires, the statistical analysis had been performed with the help of SPSS program. The two treatments showed a difference of 4 points13. The participants were represented with 4 men and 6 women whose age and weight were approximately within the same boundaries. Findings of the mentioned experiment showed significant results. Hence, it has been concluded that after 8 weeks of the consumption of high cocoa polyphenol chocolate, individuals have improved indices and decreased fatigue symptoms according to the Chalder Fatigue Scale meanwhile the same scores have been worsened under the influence of the iso-calorific cocoa liquor free chocolate. In this respect, the placebo phase did not bring favourable results showing deterioration in statistics. It is important to allude that after this experiment, two participants decided to proceed with a high cocoa chocolate diet, which allowed them to return to their job performance14. During and after the observation, weight of the participants remained static. Almost unchanged mean weight has been revealed after consumption of both chocolate samples. The consumption of extra part of kilocalories daily and the lack of its effect on human weight can be partly explained with the intensification of physical activities connected to the impact of consumed polyphenol. However, there is no solid justification on why participants’ weight did not change after the placebo phase. Taking into account that both types of chocolates were iso-calorific and had the same glycemic indices, it is obvious that positive changes in the symptoms of fatigue took place due to the influence of polyphenols contained in the chocolate. In this respect, the findings of the study can be considered as successful and the task of the authors can be called as completed. Results of the research are extremely urgent and important because of the small number of individuals who took part in the experiment. However, simultaneously this aspect can be considered as limitation of the study that in perspective requires larger number of participants in order to confirm the findings of the current research. Also as the authors mention, another limitation is that physical shape and activities of each individual have not been evaluated before, during and after the study. There was no measurement of biochemical and inflammatory markers. In addition, there was no gathered information on individual addictions, such as alcohol consumption and smoking. The analyses of external factors must be added. It would be helpful to include criteria regarding the participants’ location and their job positions that directly cause influence on physical condition and level of fatigue. Also specification of the person’s type of temperament may provide more vivid picture about the tendencies in diagnosis. Hence, in case of detected correlation between this factor and the chronic fatigue syndrome, it would be easier to reveal what kind of people more often suffer from the symptoms of the disease. For the further research, it is recommended to provide the data and peculiarities of individual diet, the list of meals and the frequency of their consumption. It is imperative to confirm that participant’s preferences and habits in food do not change during different phases of the experiment. Furthermore, it is crucial to study the individual behaviour of chocolate consumption in a long-term perspective in order to find out whether indicators worsen or stay unchanged with the lapse of time. This will allow to evaluate the objectivity and validity of the findings more accurately. Despite all mentioned limitations, the current study may have a great value for people with chronic fatigue syndrome since the consumption of extra chocolate three times a day does not lead to the increase of weight and obesity as it has been already proved by the authors. In this respect, patients are recommended to substitute cocoa liquor free chocolate with polyphenol rich chocolate bars and include them in daily ration on a constant basis. The authors of the article suggest adding chocolate with high cocoa to a formal treatment protocol15. It is well-known that the decision-making process regarding a healthy diet is a matter of choice of every single person. However, analyzing positive statistical changes and results of the experiment, it may be concluded that products rich in polyphenol are able to cause favourable influence on the level of fatigue and overall health condition of a person. Therefore, mentioned findings should not be disregarded. Reference List Embankment, A 2002, Guidelines on fatigue, International Maritime Organization, London. Campling, F, & Sharpe, M 2008, Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME), 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, Oxford. ‘Can chocolate be good for your health?’ 2011, The Wellness Express, no. 2, viewed 6 July 2013, Clarence-Smith, W G 2005, Cocoa and chocolate, 1765 – 1914, Routledge, London. Conti, A, Paoletti, R, Poli, A, & Visioli, F 2012, Chocolate and health, Springer-Verlag, New York. McCulloch, A 2006, Feeding minds: The impact of food on mental health, Mental Health Foundation, London, viewed 5 July 2013, Royal Charter 2006, Improving alertness through effective fatigue management, Energy Institute, London, viewed 6 July 2013, . Stender, S & Dyerberg, J 2003, The influence of trans fatty acids on health, The Danish Nutrition Council, Soborg, viewed 5 July 2013, Sthyapalan, T, Beckett, S, Rigby, A S, Mellor, D D, & Atkin, L 2010, ‘High cocoa polyphenol rich chocolate may reduce the burden of the symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome’, Nutrition Journal, vol. 9, no. 55, pp. 1-5. Vassallo, N 2008, Polyphenols and health: new and recent advances, Nova Science Publisher, New York. Watson, R R, Preedy, V R, & Zibadi, S 2012, Chocolate in health and nutrition, Humana Press, London. Read More