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NEWS

Chocolate 'aids fatigue syndrome'

Professor Steve Atkin

RESEARCH carried out by Professor Steve Atkin, pictured, HYMS's Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism, suggests that a daily dose of specially-formulated dark chocolate may help to cut chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms.

Patients in a pilot study found they had less fatigue if they eat dark chocolate with a high cocoa content than with white chocolate dyed brown.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) are both terms used to describe an important but poorly understood condition that affects approximately 0.5% of the population.

It is characterised by more than six months of disabling fatigue, not relieved by rest, made worse by activity, and a range of other symptoms - including pain, which cannot be explained by another medical diagnosis, and which significantly impairs a person's ability to do normal activities.

Professor Atkin said the idea for the study came after a patient reported feeling much better after swapping her normal milk chocolate for dark chocolate with a high cocoa solid content.

He decided to see if other patients would benefit and carried out a trial of 10 patients who received a daily dose - 45g - of dark chocolate or white chocolate dyed to look like dark chocolate for two months.

The patients then had a month off before taking the other type of chocolate for two months.

Those taking dark chocolate reported significantly less fatigue and reported feeling more fatigue when they stopped eating it.

Professor Atkins said he was surprised at the strength of the results but dark chocolate may be having an effect on the brain chemical serotonin.

"Although it was a small study, two patients went back to work after being off for six months."

He explained: "Dark chocolate is high in polyphenols, which have been associated with health benefits such as a reduction in blood pressure.

"Also high polyphenols appear to improve levels of serotonin in the brain, which has been linked with chronic fatigue syndrome and that may be a mechanism."

He added that although more research was needed to confirm the finding, patients would not do themselves any harm by eating small amounts of dark chocolate and no-one in the study put on any weight.

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