Table 4 The effect of CF supplementation on exercise-induced changes in perceived soreness

Corr, Field [80]

23 active (13 females, 10 males) participants

Age 24 ± 5 years

Stature 170 ± 9 cm

Mass 69 ± 12 kg

CF: CHO + protein cocoa beverage, 1245 mg (EPI: 150 mg) OR 830 mg (EPI: 99 mg)

CON: CHO + protein

Acute, immediately post-exercise

Five sets of 10 maximal concentric-eccentric contractions of the knee flexors on an isokinetic dynamometer at 60°/s

(i) VAS

(ii) LEFS

(i) ↔ between groups, large effect size 1245 vs CON

(ii) ↔ between groups

de Carvalho et al. [49]

13 trained males

Age 21 ± 2 years

Stature 180 ± 0.05 cm

Mass 87.02 ± 8.03 kg

CF: CHO + protein cocoa beverage, 306 mg CF per beverage

CON: cocoa based CHO + protein beverage, 0 mg CF

7 days, beverage consumed twice daily

Five sets of 20 drop jumps from 0.6 m, 10 s between jumps and 2 min interset rest

(i) VAS

(ii) LEFS

(i) ↔ between groups

(ii) ↔ between groups

Morgan et al. [48]

10 active males

Age 23 ± 3 years

Stature 184 ± 59 cm

Mass 85.3 ± 12.0 kg

Single leg 1RM 90.4 ± 19.0 kg

CF: 330 ml cacao juice, 74 mg CF (EPI: 8 mg, CAT: 43 mg)

CON: 330 ml CHO and flavour matched placebo, 0 mg CF

10 days supplementation (7 days pre-exercise, 3 days post)

10 sets of 10 single leg knee extensions at ~ 80% 1RM

VAS

 ↔ between groups

Peschek et al. [79]

8 well-trained males

Age 25 ± 6 years

Stature 182.1 ± 6.3 cm

Mass 73.4 ± 7.0

V̇O_2max 64.4 ± 7.6 ml·kg⁻¹ min⁻¹

CF: Cocoa based CHO protein beverage with added cocoa, 350 mg CF

CON: cocoa based CHO protein beverage, 0 mg CF

Acute ingestion of two beverages separated by 2 h post-exercise protocol

30 min downhill running at a − 10% gradient at 70% V̇O_2max

(i) VAS

(ii) LEFS

(i) ↔ between groups

(ii) ↔ between groups