Abstract
We examined the effects of six weeks of dark chocolate supplementation combined with interval jump rope exercise (JRE) on inflammatory cytokines, adipokines, and body composition in obese adolescent boys. Forty-eight obese adolescent boys (age = 15.4 ± 1.1 years and body mass index = 32.2 ± 2.4 kg/m2) were randomly assigned into one of four groups: JRE + white chocolate (JW; n = 13), JRE + dark chocolate supplementation (JD; n = 13), dark chocolate supplementation (DS; n = 12), or control (C; n = 12). Participants in JW and JD groups performed JRE for three times per week for six weeks. Participants in the DS and JD groups consumed 30 g of dark chocolate containing 83% of cocoa. Body composition, pro-inflammatory cytokines ((hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6), adipokines (leptin, resistin, RBP-4, chemerin, MCP-1), and anti-inflammatory adipokines (irisin, adiponectin)) were evaluated prior to and after the intervention trials. All three intervention trials significantly (p < 0.05) decreased body mass, waist-hip ratio, fat mass, hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, leptin, resistin, RBP-4, and MCP-1, and increased irisin and adiponectin concentrations. The improvements in these parameters were greater in the JD group, and additionally, chemerin concentrations decreased only in the JD group. JD enhanced adiponectin concentrations and decreased IL-6 concentrations compared to C. Moreover, JD significantly reduced chemerin concentrations, an effect not observed in any of the other interventions. We demonstrated that dark chocolate supplementation potentiated JRE-induced decreases in body mass, WHR, FM, hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, leptin, resistin, RBP-4, and MCP-1, chemerin as well as increases irisin and adiponectin concentrations in obese adolescent boys. Therefore, JRE combined with dark chocolate supplementation could be a beneficial in reducing obesity-induced inflammation in adolescent boys.
Highlights
It is well established that obesity in youth populations causes alterations in the balance between proand anti-inflammatory cytokine and adipokine secretions, resulting in an inflammatory response [1,2].chronic inflammation due to obesity in adolescents and children is a well-known chief risk factor for numerous clinical diseases observed in later adulthood, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease [3].Numerous physical activity strategies, including jump rope exercise (JRE) [4], have been proposed as a way to combat inflammation and improve health in obese populations [5,6]
No adverse events were reported from dark chocolate consumption or JRE
We aimed at evaluating the effects of JRE following dark chocolate supplementation on pro-inflammatory cytokines, adipokines, and anti-inflammatory adipokines in obese adolescent boys
Summary
Chronic inflammation due to obesity in adolescents and children is a well-known chief risk factor for numerous clinical diseases observed in later adulthood, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease [3]. Numerous physical activity strategies, including jump rope exercise (JRE) [4], have been proposed as a way to combat inflammation and improve health in obese populations [5,6]. 40 min of daily JRE for six weeks improved insulin sensitivity as well as triglyceride and adiponectin concentrations in obese adolescents [4]. JRE has been proven to reduce inflammatory cytokine and adipokine concentrations in adolescent cohorts, leading to improvements in various body composition and cardiovascular health indices [4,7,8]
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