A new study suggests that taking cocoa extract supplements might help lower inflammation and support heart health, especially as we age.
The research comes from the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), led by Mass General Brigham and other experts. Their findings were published in the journal Age and Ageing.
Inflammation is a natural response in the body, but as we get older, it can become more common and cause damage over time. This long-term, low-level inflammation is often called “inflammaging” and is linked to diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Scientists are looking for ways to reduce this inflammation and keep people healthier as they age.
Cocoa extract is rich in compounds called flavanols, which are found in cocoa beans, as well as in foods like berries, grapes, and tea.
Flavanols are known to have anti-inflammatory and heart-protective effects. Previous small studies hinted that cocoa might help lower inflammation, but this new study provides stronger evidence from a much larger group of people.
The COSMOS trial followed over 21,000 adults aged 60 and older from 2014 to 2020. The researchers found that people who took cocoa extract supplements had a 27% lower risk of dying from heart disease compared to those who took a placebo.
In this new part of the study, blood samples were taken from 598 of those participants to check for specific markers of inflammation.
One key marker they studied was hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), which can show if there is inflammation in the body. The researchers found that hsCRP levels dropped by 8.4% each year in people taking the cocoa supplement. This supports the idea that cocoa flavanols may help reduce harmful inflammation and protect the heart.
The study also looked at other inflammation-related proteins, including IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, and IFN-γ. Most of these markers stayed the same or increased slightly, but there was a small decrease in IL-6 in women taking the supplement. This might mean that cocoa extract has slightly different effects based on sex, which needs more research.
Although cocoa extract won’t replace medical treatments, the findings are encouraging. They show that adding more plant-based foods rich in flavanols to the diet could support healthier aging. The researchers plan to keep studying the COSMOS participants to see how cocoa supplements and multivitamins affect other aging-related health outcomes.
According to study leader Dr. Howard Sesso, the results highlight how inflammation is linked to both aging and heart disease. Eating a colorful, plant-based diet that includes foods like cocoa might be one way to help manage inflammation naturally and stay healthier for longer.
In short, this study gives hope that something as simple and enjoyable as cocoa might have real benefits for our health as we get older.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about why vitamin K is so important for older people, and this snack food may harm your heart rhythm.
For more health information, please see recent studies about vitamin that may protect you from type 2 diabetes, and results showing this common chemical in food may harm your blood pressure.
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