The estimated 12,000 Irish people suffering from the debilitating illness ME, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) may, particularly this week, welcome a study that suggests dark chocolate may give some relief from the symptoms.
A small British study carried out by researchers at the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust found that people with CFS who ate small amounts of dark chocolate every day reported feeling less fatigue after eating 1.5oz (45g) of the high-cocoa content product every day for eight weeks.
Chocolate contains chemicals called polyphenols, which have also been reported to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Researchers led by Prof Steve Atkin enrolled 10 patients in the placebo-controlled study.
They found that taking the high-polyphenol chocolate in 15g pieces three times daily improved fatigue and function in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome over a period of eight weeks compared with the placebo chocolate.
Only chocolate made with 85 per cent cocoa was found to have the claimed health benefits.
Anecdotally, two patients were able to return to work after having had symptoms of CFS for two years and they continued taking the high-cocoa chocolate, the researchers said.
However, the researchers also concluded that clarification was needed on whether the dark chocolate may have had hormonal effects on the participants.
Chocolate stimulates the release in the brain of the so-called "feel good" substance serotonin, which regulates mood and sleep.
CFS, known also as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), leaves sufferers with debilitating fatigue and neurological problems. It is generally diagnosed when a patient has more than six months of unexplained fatigue, without another medical explanation, as well as four to eight other symptoms.
Prof Atkin, a consultant endocrinologist, said no one had examined the effects of chocolate on CFS before, so that this was a "very exciting result".
Spokesman for the Irish ME/CFS support group, Tom Kindlon, himself a sufferer, said he believed further studies would have to be carried out on the potential benefits of dark chocolate.
"We'd be very sceptical of any cure claims. There have been so many claims for the condition over the years and many people have spent thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, searching for a cure without success.
"However, just as there seems to be evidence that chocolate can help with other conditions, it seems quite possible that it could help with ME and any relief would be welcomed by those suffering," he said.