26 Sep Study Finds Dark Chocolate Did Not Improve Vision

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. med. Jakob Siedlecki MD
Department of Ophthalmology
Ludwig-Maximilians-University
Munich, Germany

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: The background is that a previous study has found beneficial effects of dark chocolate on visual function. This finding was attributed to improved blood supply due to vasodilation induced by Flavanols in dark chocolate.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: In our study, we replicated the study design of the previous study, but also added objective blood supply measurements to challenge the subjective results in visual function in the previous study. In our study, we did not observe any changes in retinal blood supply attributable to dark chocolate, and no improvements in visual function. 

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response:  Readers can take away that dark chocolate certainly can taste well, but that its role as a “superfood” improving visual acuity remains to be proven.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: For future research, we believe that longer studies are necessary to evaluate long-term effects. Moreover, patients with perfusion deficits might benefit more from dark chocolate flavanols than our healthy volunteers – futures studies are needed.  

Citation:

Siedlecki J, Mohr N, Luft N, Schworm B, Keidel L, Priglinger SG. Effects of Flavanol-Rich Dark Chocolate on Visual Function and Retinal Perfusion Measured With Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online September 26, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.3731

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/article-abstract/2751380

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Last Updated on September 26, 2019 by Marie Benz MD FAAD