Cocoa Flavanols for Better Walking in Peripheral Artery Disease
COCOA flavanols to improve walking performance in PAD: the COCOA-PAD II Trial
This project explores if cocoa flavanols can help older adults with Peripheral Artery Disease walk further and more easily.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11114049 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) can make walking difficult and lead to a decline in physical ability, especially for people aged 65 and older. This happens because the calf muscles don't get enough blood flow during activity, leading to damage and reduced energy production. We are looking into whether natural compounds found in cocoa, called flavanols, can improve blood flow and repair muscle damage in the legs. Our goal is to see if taking cocoa flavanols can help people with PAD walk longer distances and maintain their independence. This will be a large, multi-center study comparing cocoa flavanols to a placebo.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people aged 65 or older who have been diagnosed with lower extremity Peripheral Artery Disease and experience walking difficulties.
Not a fit: Patients without Peripheral Artery Disease or those who do not experience walking impairment related to PAD may not receive direct benefit from this specific intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a new, natural way to improve walking ability and slow functional decline for people living with Peripheral Artery Disease.
How similar studies have performed: A previous pilot study showed that cocoa flavanols significantly improved walking distance in participants with PAD compared to a placebo.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdermott, Mary Mcgrae — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Mcdermott, Mary Mcgrae
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.