Laura M. Parkes1,2, Jonathan A. Goodwin2,
Andrew Irwin2, Roeland van Kerckhoven3, Richard Draijer3
1Imaging Sciences, University of
Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; 2MARIARC, University of
Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; 3Unilever Research &
Development, Vlaardingen, Netherlands
The
aim was to investigate the effect of high-flavonoid cocoa on CBF in a group
of 15 subjects using arterial spin labeling, and determine any link between
CBF and cognitive performance. We used a randomized cross-over design with 2
treatments: Cocoa soy-drink and a placebo drink, each taken for two weeks
with CBF and cognitive performance measured at the end of each period.
Consumption of high-flavonoid cocoa increased CBF in the temporal lobe and
hippocampal regions involved in long-term memory function and decreased CBF
to regions involved in working memory, in agreement with cognitive results.
Keywords