Image Credits: Depositphotos
A daily cocoa extract supplement high in flavanols seems to decrease age-related inflammation, according to the latest results from the largest study of its kind so far. These findings provide biological backing to previous research suggesting that cocoa flavanols might protect the heart and offer insight into how these plant compounds may slow aging by reducing “inflammaging.”
Mass General Brigham Study on Cocoa Flavanols and Aging Inflammation
In recent research conducted by a team at Mass General Brigham, scientists examined changes in five inflammation markers linked to aging in participants who took daily cocoa supplements for several years. The study analyzed data from 598 randomly chosen participants in the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) trial—a large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 21,442 individuals aged 60 and older.
The cocoa group in the trial received a daily extract supplement containing 500 mg of cocoa flavanols, including about 80 mg of epicatechin, a key flavanol believed to benefit heart and blood vessel health.
“Our interest in cocoa extract and inflammaging began with observed cocoa-related reductions in cardiovascular disease,” said Howard Sesso, associate epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the study’s corresponding author. “We recognize the strong connection between healthy aging and cardiovascular health, as inflammation from aging can stiffen arteries and contribute to cardiovascular disease. For this reason, we aimed to determine whether multi-year cocoa extract supplementation compared to a placebo could influence inflammaging—and the results indicate that it does.”
Cocoa Supplementation Lowers Key Inflammation Marker hsCRP in Older Adults
In this recent study, researchers analyzed blood samples from 598 participants (average age 70) to measure several biomarkers related to inflammaging: three pro-inflammatory proteins (hsCRP, IL-6, and TNF-α), one anti-inflammatory protein (IL-10), and one immune-regulating protein (IFN-γ, or interferon-gamma). While most biomarkers remained relatively stable over time, hsCRP levels dropped significantly by 8.4% annually in the cocoa group compared to the placebo. This finding matters because hsCRP actively indicates inflammation, which raises the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Previous studies show that cocoa extract reduces inflammaging markers, which play a crucial role in slowing aging and promoting healthy aging in older adults. In this study, participants taking the cocoa supplement experienced a modest 6.8% annual increase in IFN-γ compared to the placebo group, although researchers have not yet fully understood the implications of this rise.
“Interestingly, we also noticed a rise in interferon-γ, an immune-related cytokine, which raises new questions for future studies,” said senior author Yanbin Dong, M.D., Director of the Georgia Prevention Institute (GPI). “Although cocoa extract is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle, these findings are promising and emphasize its potential to help regulate inflammation as we age.”
Broader Benefits of Flavanols Highlighted; Independence of COSMOS Trial Emphasized
Previous studies have linked cocoa compounds to improved memory and protection against type 2 diabetes, with several—published in 2016, 2019, and 2023—specifically examining whether cocoa flavanols can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in older adults. However, it’s important to note that both those studies and the COSMOS trial used cocoa supplements containing flavanols also found in foods like tea, berries, and grapes. Therefore, the results may reflect the wider benefits of this group of plant compounds, not cocoa alone.
The researchers also clarify that while food manufacturer Mars provided materials for the study through its science division, Mars Edge, the company had no involvement in the trial’s design, execution, data collection, analysis, or the conclusions of the final paper. The COSMOS trial was independently initiated and managed by multiple academic teams.
The Mass General Brigham team now aims to explore whether cocoa flavanol and multivitamin supplements can help reduce more severe inflammaging and improve other age-related health issues beyond heart disease.
“This study highlights the benefits of plant-based foods for cardiovascular health, including flavanol-rich cocoa products,” added Sesso. “It underscores the importance of maintaining a varied, colorful, plant-based diet—particularly when it comes to managing inflammation.”
Read the original article on: New Atlas