CURLING up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate is typically thought of as a way to relax and unwind.

But a groundbreaking new study into multiple sclerosis (MS) has found that antioxidant-rich chemicals found in some forms of the drink can actually reduce fatigue in people with the relapsing form of the disease.

Scotland has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with around 11,000 people in Scotland currently living with the incurable condition.

An estimated 90 per cent of sufferers experience extreme tiredness, which can severely impact quality of life.

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However, a study published today in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry (JNNP), has found that flavonoids present in hot chocolate helped to reduce these symptoms in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), the most common type of the disease.

suggests a daily drink of flavonoid-rich hot chocolate could have a positive long-term effect on fatigue.

It is thought that the drink could also influence mood, cognitive performance, and the ability to perform certain movements.

The six-week feasibility trial - the first of its kind - was funded by the MS Society.

Flavonoids , a compound found in various plant-based foods, including raw cacao, are known for their high antioxidant properties.

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Researchers believe their positive influence on MS is because they reduce inflammation in the body.

Lottie Campion, 35, was among those who participated in the trial.

The mother-of one, from Warwickshire, was diagnosed with relapsing MS in 2017, having experienced her first symptom shortly after giving birth to her son the previous year. She said taking part in the trial has turned out to be a life-changing experience.

The part-time marketing assistant said: “My most crippling MS symptom was fatigue, so when I saw people were needed for a trial I thought ‘anything is worth a shot’. Plus, I’m a chocolate monster.

“I noticed after just a few weeks that I felt less tired – I couldn’t believe it.

"When the trial was over I felt panicked at the thought of not having it, so I tried about six hot chocolates before I found one that worked.

"I’ve been drinking it every morning since.”

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When the results of the double-blind, placebo controlled trial were revealed to Ms Campion, it transpired the drink she chose for herself was the same one tested in the trial.

A year later, she says she is finding the fatigue easier to manage.

She said: “I still have MS, but I’m pretty confident the hot chocolate is helping. I even tell my friends and family that they should try having a cup to feel more energised.”

Dr Shelly Coe, senior lecturer in nutrition at Oxford Brookes University, said: “I’m excited we found what we did.

"MS is unpredictable and different for everyone, so we now need to know exactly how effective flavonoid-rich hot chocolate is and whether it can benefit all people with MS before it’s recommended.

“This work is still in its early stages, but with more data we very much hope to find a dietary approach that could help people with MS manage their symptoms, cheaply and safely, in the future.

"Until then, people like Lottie may find drinking a raw form of cacao daily helps with their fatigue.”

Director of MS Society Scotland, Morna Simpkins, said: “We’re driving research into more and better treatments, and it’s really encouraging to see our trial delivering positive results for people with MS.

“We know fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of MS and it can have a huge impact on quality of life, so finding more comprehensive treatments that help is one of our top research priorities.”

Epidemiological studies have previously shown that diets rich in flavonoids are directly related to increased longevity and a decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease.

It is unclear why Scotland has such high rates of MS compared to other parts of the UK, although lower exposure to vitamin D-generating sunlight has been put forward as a theory.

A 2012 study revealed that the Orkney isles have the highest rates of MS in the world, at 402 cases per 100,000 people, compared to a Scottish average of 2019 per 100,000.

However, the picture has been complicated by a more recent study showing that older Orcadians actually had higher than average vitamin D levels in their blood.