Nutr Res Pract.  2023 Apr;17(2):228-240. 10.4162/nrp.2023.17.2.228.

Cocoa: a functional food that decreases insulin resistance and oxidative damage in young adults with class II obesity

• González-Garrido JA
• García-Sánchez JR
• López-Victorio CJ
• Escobar-Ramírez A
• Olivares-Corichi IM

• KMID: 2541361
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2023.17.2.228

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Cocoa consumption is associated with health benefits due to its high content of polyphenols. However, the effects of short-term cocoa consumption remain unclear. We aimed to determine the effects generated by cocoa consumption (for 7 days) in young adults in normoweight and class II obesity.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
Before-and-after study was carried out in normoweight (NW) (n = 15) and class II obesity (CIIO) (n = 15) young adults. The NW and CIIO participants consumed 25 and 39 g of cocoa, respectively, per day for 7 days. The effect of cocoa consumption was evaluated on the lipid profile, insulin resistance (IR), and inflammation. Oxidative damage was also examined by assessing the biomarkers of oxidative damage in plasma. In addition, recombinant human insulin was incubated with blood obtained from the participants, and the molecular damage to the hormone was analyzed.
RESULTS
Cocoa consumption resulted in decreased low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in both groups (P = 0.04), while the total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were maintained at the recommended levels. Initially, IR was detected in the CIIO group (homeostasis model assessment [HOMA] = 4.78 ± 0.4), which is associated with molecular damage to insulin. Interestingly, intervention with cocoa resulted in improved IR (HOMA = 3.14 ± 0.31) (P = 0.0018) as well as molecular damage to insulin. Finally, cocoa consumption significant decreased the arginase activity (P = 0.0249) in the CIIO group; this is a critical enzymatic activity in the inflammatory process associated with obesity.
CONCLUSIONS
The short-term consumption of cocoa improves the lipid profile, exerts antiinflammatory effects, and protects against oxidative damage. Results of this study indicate that cocoa consumption can potentially improve IR and restore a healthy redox status.

Keyword

Polyphenols; prediabetic state; antioxidants; free radicals; inflammation

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Modification of insulin after incubation with blood from NW and CIIO participants. (A) Coomassie blue of nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels of insulins incubated in blood. Lane 1 native insulin, lane 2–4 and lane 5–7 are insulin incubated in blood from CIIO and NW subjects, respectively. The arrow indicates an insulin with different electrophoretic mobility and molecular mass of 25 kDa. This band appeared only in the insulin incubated in blood from CIIO participants. MW of the markers (kDa) are given on the left side of the panel. (B) Electrophoretic pattern of insulin after incubation in blood from CIIO and NW participants with and without cocoa consumption. The arrow indicates the insulin modified (25 kDa), which disappears after cocoa consumption.CIIO, class II obese; NW, normoweight; MW, molecular weight.

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