Scientists found that small amounts of dark chocolate may improve health in a similar way to exercise.
The researchers focused on the mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses in cells that generate energy, and discovered that a plant compound found in chocolate, called epicatechin, appeared to stimulate the same muscleresponse as vigorous activity.
Dr Moh Malek, from Wayne State University in Detroit, who led the US study on mice, said: "Mitochondria produce energy which is used by the cells in the body. More mitochondria mean more energy is produced. "
"Aerobic exercise, such as running or cycling, is known to increase the number of mitochondria in muscle cells. Our study has found that epicatechin seems to bring about the same response - particularly in the heart and skeletal muscles，"he said.
A specific type of epicatechin from cocoa was given to mice twice a day for 15 days. At the same time, other animals underwent 30 minutes of treadmill training each day.
Researchers found that mice only fed epicatechin had the same exercise performance as those running on the treadmill.
The scientists hope their research will lead to better ways of combating age-related muscle wasting.
"The number of mitochondria decreases in skeletal muscle as we age, and this affects us physically in terms of both muscleenergy production and endurance," said Dr Malek. "Applying what we know about epicatechin's ability may provide an approach to reduce the effects of muscle ageing."
"It appears epicatechin treatment combined with exercised could be a viable means to offsetmuscle ageing," said Dr Malek.
The findings were published in the Journal of Physiology.


据英国《每日电讯报》9月15日报道，科学家发现，吃少量黑巧克力能起到相当于锻炼的功效，改善身体状况。

研究人员对细胞内产生能量的微小"发电站"--线粒体进行了集中研究。人在进行剧烈运动时，身体中的肌肉也出现一些反应，研究人员发现巧克力中一种名为表儿茶素的植物化合物似乎也能促使肌肉发生类似的反应。

美国底特律州立韦恩大学的莫•马利克博士领导了在美国进行的小鼠实验，他说："线粒体产生的能量供应着身体内的细胞，更多的线粒体越多意味着能产生更多的能量也更多。"


他说："众所周知，有氧运动，例如跑步或骑车，可以增加细胞内线粒体的数量。我们的研究发现，表儿茶素似乎能引起相同的反应，尤其在心脏和骨骼肌中。"

在15天中，研究人员每天给小鼠喂两次从可可粉中提炼出的特定类型的表儿茶素。同时，另外一些老鼠每天在跑步机上"锻炼"30分钟。

研究人员发现，那些只吃表儿茶素的老鼠与在跑步机上进行锻炼的老鼠得到了同样的运动效果。


科学家希望他们的研究能够给解决对抗老年性肌肉损耗带来更有效的办法。


马利克博士说："随着年龄增长，骨骼肌中的线粒体数目也会减少，这对人体肌肉能量的生产和耐力都有影响。如果利用这种我们所知道的表儿茶素的功能，我们就可以得到一种降低肌肉老化影响的方法。"

马利克博士说："表儿茶素疗法与锻炼相结合可能是抵消肌肉老化的可行办法。"

该发现发表在《生理学杂志》期刊上。

• energy [´enədʒi] n.活力，精力；能力 (初中英语单词)
• compound [kəm´paund] n.&a.混合(的) v.合成 (初中英语单词)
• muscle [´mʌsəl] n.肌肉；体力；力量 (初中英语单词)
• detroit [də´trɔit] n.底特律 (初中英语单词)
• running [´rʌniŋ] a.奔跑的；流动的 (初中英语单词)
• performance [pə´fɔ:məns] n.履行；行为；工作 (初中英语单词)
• research [ri´sə:tʃ] n.&vi.调查；探究；研究 (初中英语单词)
• ability [ə´biliti] n.(办事)能力；才干 (初中英语单词)
• treatment [´tri:tmənt] n.待遇；对待；治疗 (初中英语单词)
• journal [´dʒə:nəl] n.日记；日报；杂志 (初中英语单词)
• stimulate [´stimjuleit] v.刺激；服兴奋剂 (高中英语单词)
• response [ri´spɔns] n.回答；响应 (高中英语单词)
• vigorous [´vigərəs] a.精力旺盛的；健壮的 (高中英语单词)
• specific [spi´sifik] a.具体的；特有的 (高中英语单词)
• generate [´dʒenəreit] vt.创造；发生；引起 (英语四级单词)
• physically [´fizikəli] ad.按照自然规律 (英语四级单词)
• offset [´ɔ:fset] n.&vt.抵销；补偿 (英语六级单词)