The effect of short term dark chocolate supplementation pre-incremental exercise on vascular lipid peroxidation in active young girls

Oxidative stress is considered as one of the factors that can damage tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of short term dark chocolate supplementation pre-incremental exercise on vascular lipid peroxidation in active young girls. This is a semi-experimental study. 16 active girls in two groups of experimental (dark chocolate supplementation) and control (avoiding the use of chocolate) participated in this study after completing consent forms. Experimental group consumed dark chocolate (80 grams per day) three days before exercise. After that, the two groups participated in a session of incremental exercise. Venous blood samples were taken in three stages for measurement of H2O2 and MDA concentration; prior to exercise test, immediately and 1 hour after exercise. MDA and H2O2 concentration in both groups had no significant changes after incremental exercise and recovery in comparing to basal state (intra group comparison) (p≥0.05). But experimental group compared to control group had a lower H2O2 level in three stages of basal state (experimental: 1.25±0.45, control: 2.08±0.42) (p=0.004), after exercise (experimental: 1.68±0.30, control: 2.16±0.52) (p=0.05) and recovery (experimental: 1.51±0.30, control: 2.18±0.44) (p=0.006). Short term dark chocolate supplementation maybe effective in controlling the upward trend of the lipid peroxidation during incremental exercise in young active girls.