A research project on whether cacao-rich chocolate could help rejuvenate brain function does not have sufficient data to release the results, a Cabinet Office panel of experts announced Thursday.
However, the panel said the aim of the research was appropriate, and called for the members of the national project to obtain more data through additional preliminary tests.
The research was part of a brain-related study and conducted as one of the 16 large national research projects making up the Impulsing Paradigm Change through Disruptive Technologies Program (ImPACT).
The panel pointed out the following problems:
-- The research did not compare the data of research participants with those of people who did not eat chocolate.
-- There were few participants, and the experiment was too short in duration.
The panel said the project's supervisor did not manage it properly, and the Cabinet Office also needs to have a checking system for such projects.
"We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause," said Yoshinori Yamakawa, the program manager in charge of the research. He said the research with Meiji Co. would be canceled, and he plans to compile a separate research paper.
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