Abstract
Menopause has a negative impact on quality of life (QoL). The aim of the present study was to analyse the effect on QoL of adding 10 g per day of chocolate with a high concentration of cocoa (99%) to the habitual diet, for 6 months, in a sample of postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women (n = 140) aged 50–64 years were randomised to either an addition of 10 g per day of cocoa-rich chocolate to their usual diet or no supplement addition. All variables were measured at baseline and after six months of intervention. QoL was evaluated using the 3-level version of EuroQol-5D (EuroQoL-5D-3L), the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) and the Cervantes scale. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) analyses adjusted for the main determinants of QoL considered in this study showed no changes in the global score of QoL evaluated with the EuroQoL-5D-3L. The intervention group showed an increase of 6.0 points (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.4, 11.7) in the EQ-VAS compared to the control group (p = 0.036). No significant changes were observed between groups in the global score of QoL nor in the dimensions and subdimensions measured with the Cervantes scale. The additional daily contribution of 10 g of cocoa-rich chocolate in postmenopausal women could have a slight impact on their perception toward their health state, although without modifying the health-related QoL or the dimensions that compose it.
Highlights
Menopause has a negative impact on quality of life (QoL), with a gradual decrease from the premenopausal period to the postmenopausal period [1], in terms of both physical and mental health [2,3]
A greater consumption of chocolate has been associated with a higher score in the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) [12], in which 16 or more points often represent a positive screening result, no cause–effect relationship has been established between showing more signs of depression and a greater consumption of chocolate [13]
Three participants were lost in the evaluation at 6 months from the beginning of the study (IG: n = 2, control group (CG): n = 1)
Summary
Menopause has a negative impact on quality of life (QoL), with a gradual decrease from the premenopausal period to the postmenopausal period [1], in terms of both physical and mental health [2,3]. Such decrease in the QoL of postmenopausal women is associated with the appearance of genitourinary [4,5,6] and, especially, vasomotor [1] symptoms, such as hot flushes [7]. A greater consumption of chocolate has been associated with a higher score in the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) [12], in which 16 or more points often represent a positive screening result, no cause–effect relationship has been established between showing more signs of depression and a greater consumption of chocolate [13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
