Cocoa to Maximize Exercise Training in Older Adults - The COMET Trial

Recruiting now · Phase 1/Phase 2 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Mobility Disability

In brief

The purpose of the study is to see if regular exercise when combined with a cocoa supplement will improve physical performance and muscle strength compared to regular exercise alone.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07161726

Run by

University of Alabama at Birmingham

People needed

36

Starts

2026-04-21

Expected to finish

2027-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-05-08

Who can join

Age: 55 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age 55 years and older
• Slow walking speed of < 1m/s
• Willingness to be randomized to either treatment group
• Willingness to participate in all study procedures (muscle biopsy will be optional)

You may not qualify if…

• Failure to provide informed consent;
• Regular consumption of flavanol and/or cocoa supplements
• Current involvement in supervised rehabilitation/exercise training program
• Absolute contraindication(s) to exercise training according to American College of Sports Medicine guidelines [17]
• Daytime average of systolic blood pressure ≥ 180/100mm Hg.
• Refusal to stop blood thinners such as baby aspirin dose.
• Peripheral vascular disease; peripheral neuropathy; retinopathy
• Severe cardiac disease, including NYHA Class III or IV congestive heart failure, clinically significant aortic stenosis, history of cardiac arrest, use of a cardiac defibrillator, or uncontrolled angina;
• Myocardial infarction or stroke within past year
• Significant cognitive impairment, including known dementia diagnosis or a Mini-Mental State Examination exam score < 24
• Progressive, degenerative neurologic disease, e.g., Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis;
• Severe rheumatologic or orthopedic diseases, e.g., awaiting joint replacement, active inflammatory disease;
• Severe pulmonary disease, requiring either steroid pills or injections or the use of supplemental oxygen;
• Hip fracture, hip or knee replacement, or spinal surgery within past 4 months;
• Other significant co-morbid conditions that would impair ability to participate in the exercise-based intervention
• Simultaneous participation in another interventional trial

Where it is running

• University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, Alabama, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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