CHOCOLATE: GOING BEYOND PLEASANT TASTE DIRECTLY TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF SLEEP QUALITY

Resumo

Introduction: Sleep disorders are increasingly prevalent and are associated with significant impacts on physical and mental health. Dietary factors have emerged as potentially modifiable determinants of sleep quality, with particular interest in functional foods such as chocolate, which is rich in bioactive compounds, including flavonoids and tryptophan, and may influence neuroendocrine pathways involved in sleep regulation. Objective: To evaluate the effects of chocolate consumption on sleep quality. Metho ds: This is an integrative literature review conducted through a search in the PubMed database using the descriptors chocolate and sleep quality. Initially, filters for the last 5 years were applied, identifying 11 studies, of which 3 were selected after t itle and abstract screening. Subsequently, the time frame was expanded to the last 10 years, resulting in 17 studies, including 1 additional relevant article, for a total of 4 studies in the final analysis. Results: The evidence demonstrates heterogeneous findings. A randomized clinical trial in menopausal women showed that daily consumption of dark chocolate (78% cocoa) for eight weeks significantly improved depressive symptoms but did not result in statistically significant improvements in overall sleep q uality. In contrast, observational studies suggest that dietary intake, including chocolate, is associated with sleep patterns, possibly mediated by mechanisms involving tryptophan, serotonin, and melatonin. Furthermore, pediatric studies indicate that hig her consumption of chocolate and processed foods is associated with worse sleep -related outcomes, including increased severity of sleep -disordered breathing. Conclusion: Chocolate consumption alone does not consistently improve sleep quality. However, overall dietary patterns appear to play a significant role in sleep regulation, likely mediated by neuroendocrine and metabolic mechanisms. Further studies are needed to clarify the specific role of chocolate in sleep outcomes.