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Is Cocoa Extract Capsule Safe For A Diabetic Patient?
Question: I have been asked to participate in a study being done by Brigham and Women's Hospital & Harvard Medical School. The study is a 4 year study involving cocoa extract capsules & a multivitamin or placebos My main concern is if it is safe to participate. I have diabetes 2 & am otherwise in good health. I am 75 years old. What is your opinion? Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Good Afternoon and Welcome to Healthcare Magic
Detailed Answer:
Both Brigham and Harvard are excellent research organizations. They will be aware of your medications and if it is safe to conduct the study in conjunction with your history and current medications, so I leave all of that to them and their safety protocols, ethic committees and such.
With regards to the safety of the cocoa extract capsules, there have been many positive effects attributed to cocoa powder such as making insulin more sensitive, increasing a sense of well-being, good for the heart. . .many positive claims. What we need now are the actual human or clinical trials to provide some evidence that these positive effects do occur and document any negative effects observed. So, in my opinion, I think it seems like a safe study for you to consider.
I am confused as to why they are introducing a variable such as a multivitamin with the cocoa or am I misunderstanding? Or is the placebo group receiving the multivitamin? I do suggest that this study eliminate the multivitamin in the arm of the study receiving the cocoa extract.
I do hope I have alleviated all of your concerns. If you have more specific ones, or ones I have not touched on, feel free to write back. If your age is an issue to you, forget it. That is a research issue. We need data on older adults too.
Healthy Regards, XXXXXXX Shattler, MS,RDN
Good Afternoon and Welcome to Healthcare Magic
Detailed Answer:
Both Brigham and Harvard are excellent research organizations. They will be aware of your medications and if it is safe to conduct the study in conjunction with your history and current medications, so I leave all of that to them and their safety protocols, ethic committees and such.
With regards to the safety of the cocoa extract capsules, there have been many positive effects attributed to cocoa powder such as making insulin more sensitive, increasing a sense of well-being, good for the heart. . .many positive claims. What we need now are the actual human or clinical trials to provide some evidence that these positive effects do occur and document any negative effects observed. So, in my opinion, I think it seems like a safe study for you to consider.
I am confused as to why they are introducing a variable such as a multivitamin with the cocoa or am I misunderstanding? Or is the placebo group receiving the multivitamin? I do suggest that this study eliminate the multivitamin in the arm of the study receiving the cocoa extract.
I do hope I have alleviated all of your concerns. If you have more specific ones, or ones I have not touched on, feel free to write back. If your age is an issue to you, forget it. That is a research issue. We need data on older adults too.
Healthy Regards, XXXXXXX Shattler, MS,RDN
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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