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| Chocolate 'aids fatigue syndrome' | Chocolate 'aids fatigue syndrome' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A daily dose of specially-formulated dark chocolate may help cut chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. | |
| Patients in a pilot study found they had less fatigue when eating dark chocolate with a high cocoa content than with white chocolate dyed brown. | Patients in a pilot study found they had less fatigue when eating dark chocolate with a high cocoa content than with white chocolate dyed brown. |
| Researchers from Hull York Medical School said the results were surprising but dark chocolate may be having an effect on the brain chemical serotonin. | |
| Experts said patients should consume chocolate in moderation. | Experts said patients should consume chocolate in moderation. |
| Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as ME, is a condition with a diverse range of symptoms but particularly characterised by profound muscle fatigue after physical exertion. | Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as ME, is a condition with a diverse range of symptoms but particularly characterised by profound muscle fatigue after physical exertion. |
| If you derive benefit, then it's a no harm, no risk situation Professor Steve Atkin | If you derive benefit, then it's a no harm, no risk situation Professor Steve Atkin |
| Study leader Professor Steve Atkin, an expert in endocrinology, 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. | Study leader Professor Steve Atkin, an expert in endocrinology, 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. | 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. | 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. | Those taking dark chocolate reported significantly less fatigue and reported feeling more fatigue when they stopped eating it. |
| Polyphenols | Polyphenols |
| Professor Atkin said he was very surprised at the strength of the results. | Professor Atkin said he was very surprised at the strength of the results. |
| "Although it was a small study, two patients went back to work after being off for six months." | "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. | 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." | "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 findings, patients would not do themselves any harm by eating small amounts of dark chocolate and no-one in the study put on any weight. | He added that although more research was needed to confirm the findings, patients would not do themselves any harm by eating small amounts of dark chocolate and no-one in the study put on any weight. |
| "If you derive benefit, then it's a no-harm, no-risk situation." | "If you derive benefit, then it's a no-harm, no-risk situation." |
| Jane Colby, executive director of The Young ME Sufferers Trust said it was important to distinguish between ME and other types of fatigue. | Jane Colby, executive director of The Young ME Sufferers Trust said it was important to distinguish between ME and other types of fatigue. |
| "But a little bit of what you fancy does you good - if it's not doing you any harm and it seems to be helping you then fair enough but I don't think it's an instant cure." | "But a little bit of what you fancy does you good - if it's not doing you any harm and it seems to be helping you then fair enough but I don't think it's an instant cure." |
| She added that people needed to eat chocolate in moderation to ensure they do not put on weight. | She added that people needed to eat chocolate in moderation to ensure they do not put on weight. |
| Heather Walker, Communications Manager, Action for ME, said: "Wouldn't it be wonderful if eating chocolate every day could alleviate the symptoms of chronic illness? | Heather Walker, Communications Manager, Action for ME, said: "Wouldn't it be wonderful if eating chocolate every day could alleviate the symptoms of chronic illness? |
| "If it were that easy, there would not be 250,000 people in the UK today whose lives are being been devastated by ME." | "If it were that easy, there would not be 250,000 people in the UK today whose lives are being been devastated by ME." |
| The researchers stressed the chocolate formulation used in the study was not currently available to the public. |