Cocoa flavanols protect cognitive function, cerebral oxygenation, and mental fatigue during severe hypoxia
P Bloomfield, James P. Fisher, David M. Shaw, Nicholas Gant
Abstract
We show for the first time that cocoa flavanols exert a neuroprotective effect during severe hypoxia. Following acute cocoa flavanol ingestion, we observed improvements in cognition, cerebral oxygenation, and subjective fatigue during normoxia and severe poikilocapnic hypoxia. Cocoa flavanols did not improve cognition during severe isocapnic hypoxia, suggesting a possible interaction with carbon dioxide.
Topics & Concepts
Hypoxia (environmental)OxygenationCognitionMedicineLung functionAnesthesiaCardiologyPsychologyInternal medicineNeuroscienceOxygenChemistryLungOrganic chemistryHigh Altitude and HypoxiaHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic ControlFatty Acid Research and Health