Effects of Dark Chocolate on Exercise Capacity, and Mitochondrial Structure and Function

The major goal of this study is to characterize the ability of dark chocolate enriched in epicatechin (a component of dark chocolate) to improve the structural and functional features of mitochondria in two groups 1. Patients with heart failure (HF) and type 2 diabetes (DM2) and 2. Normal yet sedentary individuals with impaired baseline exercise capacity (as assessed by VO2 max) We propose that a 3 month treatment with dark chocolate will lead to a significant improvement in exercise capacity which will be secondary to the improvement in skeletal muscle structure from epicatechin.