Cocoa Relieves Children’s Stress: Randomized Parallel-group Comparison Study
Hiroyuki Inagaki, Takayuki Yamamoto, Yuko Matsui, Mitsuko Itoh
This study aimed to determine the effects of consuming cocoa drinks on stress levels and physiological
conditions of children. This single-blind, non-intervention controlled, parallel group comparison study
recruited 44 children aged 12 years who were healthy but had stress. Blood tests were conducted to
ensure safety and to explore any potential effect, and stress was evaluated using the General Health
Questionnaire (GHQ). The participants were randomized into two groups: the cocoa group, who
consumed cocoa drink for four weeks, and the control group. The study was conducted between October
and November 2022. We analyzed the GHQ and blood test results of 37 children. There was a significant
improvement in stress level from GHQ, and in serum Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) of children in the
cocoa group compared to those in the control group. Consuming cocoa drinks for four weeks showed
lowered stress levels in children.
