Scientists invent anti-ageing chocolate Esthechoc

Scientists claim to have developed a new chocolate that slows down the formation of wrinkles and sagging skin, Design & Trend reported.

According to the scientists at Cambridge University spin-off lab Lycotech, the chocolate can make the skin look up to 30 years younger.

At only 38 calories per bar, 'Esthechoc' combined two of the most powerful antioxidants - cocoa flavanols and marine carotenoid astaxanthin, the report added.

According to a brochure for the chocolate, one 7.5g piece delivered as much flavanol activity as 100g of dark chocolate.

The chocolate also contained the same amount of antioxidant astaxanthin as 300 gram of wild Alaskan salmon.

The scientists claim after three to four weeks of daily Esthechoc intake, volunteers between the ages of 50 and 60 years old experienced increased blood supply to skin tissue.

They added, this consequently resulted in a significant boost of oxygen delivery to the tissues which restored their respiration - the essential physiological need in controlling and supporting skin health.

Dr Ivan Petyaev, one of the creators of the chocolate, told The Telegraph said they used people in their 50s and 60s and in terms of skin biomarkers found it had brought skin back to the levels of a 20 or 30 year old. They had thus improved the skin's physiology.

As each bar contained 38kcal, the makers believed it was also suitable for diabetics, the report added.

According to a report in The Independent, clinical trials showed that volunteers who ate the chocolate daily for four weeks had less inflammation in their blood and an increased blood supply to skin tissue, the scientists claimed.

These effects could be attributed to a boost in the level of antioxidants and increased blood circulation, which prevented wrinkles.

However, Esthechoc would be available to only a select audience, which according to the brochure would be ''elegant, educated and affluent' city-dwelling women in their 30s, and businessmen "to support their appearance in a stressful environment and on their business travels."

The product, also known as the Cambridge Beauty Chocolate, would hit shelves at upmarket retailers from next month, but the price tag which would likely be hefty had not yet been revealed by the makers.