Could chocolate or oranges help protect bones in old age?
A study looking into the health benefits from cocoa and vitamin C is looking for volunteers.
A team at The University of Nottingham are testing theories on how to maintain muscle mass as we grow old, protecting frail bones that can lead to painful breaks and fractures.
They want healthy men aged 18-28 and 65-75 to volunteer for the £270,000 Chocolate Orange Study.
In the UK, there are now more people over the age of 65 than there are under the age of 18. With an increasingly ageing population, it is projected that by 2033 the number of people aged 85 and over will reach 3.2million.
Using state-of-the-art technology, scientists will monitor the impact of cocoa and vitamin C on the amount of blood flow that reaches the muscle
“There is a well-established correlation between premature mortality and muscle mass loss in the elderly,” said Beth Philips a postgraduate research associate in the Department of Clinical Physiology.
“We want to know if cocoa and vitamin C can help slow down this deterioration.”
The tests will be carried out in Derby at the University’s School of Graduate Entry Medicine and each volunteer will receive a £150 inconvenience allowance.
