Effect of Chocolate Consumption Prior to Prolonged Sitting on Cardiovascular Health in Adults

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Cardiovascular Health During Prolonged Sitting

In brief

This randomized controlled crossover trial investigates the acute effects of consuming dark, milk, and white chocolate before prolonged sitting on cardiovascular health in healthy adults. Each participant completes three separate study visits and receives all three chocolate conditions in a randomized order, with a 7-day washout period between visits. Blood pressure, heart rate, pulse wave velocity, blood glucose, appetite, pain, and calf circumference are measured before and during a 3-hour sitting perio

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07556627

Run by

King Saud University

People needed

22

Starts

2026-04-04

Expected to finish

2026-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-29

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 40. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Adult males and females aged between 18 and 40 years.
• Participants with blood pressure within the normal or elevated range (less than 130/80 mmHg), according to the American Heart Association guidelines.

You may not qualify if…

• Females with menopause will be excluded due to the physiological effects of menopause and to ensure hormonal stability.
• Participants with nut allergies, due to the possibility that the chocolate used may contain traces of nuts resulting from manufacturing processes.
• Participants with dairy allergies, due to the use of milk chocolate and white chocolate, and the possibility that dark chocolate may contain traces of milk resulting from manufacturing processes .
• Participants with chronic diseases that may affect the study variables, such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes, or any medical condition that affects circulation.
• Participants using medications that may affect the targeted physiological measurements in the study, such as antihypertensive medications, antidiabetic medications, or drugs affecting the autonomic nervous system.
• Participants with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m², due to the association between obesity and vascular dysfunction, characterized by increased blood pressure and arterial stiffness, which may lead to variability in vascular responses.
• Participants who are physically active (≥150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity), to avoid the impact of high levels of training on vascular responses.
• Smokers, due to the chronic effects of smoking on endothelial function and arterial stiffness.
• Participants with back injuries that limit their ability to sit continuously for three hours.
• Female participants who are pregnant, breastfeeding, due to the associated hormonal changes that may influence the physiological indicators measured in the study.

Where it is running

• Exercise Physiology Laboratory, King Saud University — Riyadh, Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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