Posted on 09/19/2025 7:02:07 AM PDT by Red Badger
2-Year U.S. Study Shows Daily Cocoa Flavonol Supplement May Lower Inflammation In Older Adults
In A Nutshell
* A 2-year U.S. trial found cocoa extract lowered hsCRP, a key inflammation marker in aging.
* Participants taking cocoa flavanols saw an 8.4% yearly reduction vs placebo.
* Benefits were strongest in people with higher baseline inflammation.
* Supplements, not ordinary chocolate, provided the tested flavanol levels.
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BOSTON — A daily cocoa extract supplement rich in flavanols lowered a key marker of chronic inflammation in older adults, according to a major U.S. clinical trial. The study offers rare long-term evidence that plant compounds found in cocoa may help counter “inflammaging,” the gradual rise in inflammation linked to heart disease, frailty, and other age-related conditions.
Researchers followed nearly 600 generally healthy men and women in their 70s. Half took cocoa extract capsules each day, while the rest took look-alike placebo pills. Blood samples collected over the two years revealed a clear difference between the two groups: people on cocoa extract had lower inflammation at the end of the trial compared with those on placebo.
The supplement used in the study contained cocoa flavanols, plant compounds also found in dark chocolate. But unlike chocolate bars, the capsules delivered a steady, concentrated dose without added sugar or fat.
What The Study Found
Doctors often measure a protein in the blood called C-reactive protein (CRP) to check for hidden inflammation. Higher levels of CRP mean more strain inside the body and higher risk for heart problems.
In the placebo group, CRP levels slowly climbed during the study, which is typical as people age. Those with CRP of 10 mg/L or higher, indicating very high cardiovascular risk, saw annual reductions of nearly 38% compared with placebo. By the end of two years, people on the supplement had noticeably lower CRP levels than those who didn’t take it.
The difference may sound small on paper, but it could matter a lot for long-term health. Past research suggests that even moderate drops in CRP can translate into fewer heart attacks, strokes, and other age-related diseases.
The study also looked at a few other immune system signals. One, called interferon-gamma, rose slightly in the cocoa group. While traditionally thought of as pro-inflammatory, newer research suggests this molecule can also help regulate immune activity and limit tissue damage during chronic inflammation. The trial’s authors caution, however, that the clinical meaning of this increase remains uncertain and requires more study.
Why Inflammation Matters
Inflammation is the body’s natural way of fighting off infection and repairing damage. In short bursts, it’s protective. But as people get older, inflammation often stays switched on at a low level, even when there’s no infection to fight.
This “always-on” state, sometimes called inflammaging, acts like a slow-burning fire inside the body. Over time, it can damage blood vessels, muscles, bones, and even the brain. This steady wear and tear makes people more vulnerable to heart disease, memory problems, frailty, and other common conditions of aging.
By slowing the rise of inflammation, cocoa extract could help the body age more smoothly. The effect was especially strong in participants who started out with higher levels of inflammation, suggesting that people at greater risk might benefit the most. Researchers estimate that the observed reduction corresponds to a 7% to 23% lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Chocolate vs. Supplements
Research on chocolate and health isn’t new, but most past studies only lasted a few weeks or months. That made it hard to tell whether cocoa compounds could have lasting effects. This trial followed people for a full two years, giving scientists a better look at slow changes that build up over time.
The trial was also large and carefully designed. It was part of the broader COSMOS study, which enrolled over 21,000 older adults to test the long-term effects of cocoa extract and multivitamins on health. This sub-study zoomed in on inflammation and included only participants who stayed free of major illnesses during the trial, so results were not skewed by sudden health events.
That said, eating chocolate is not the same as taking a flavanol supplement. Most commercial chocolate products are processed in ways that strip out many of these beneficial compounds, while adding sugar and fat that could offset potential health gains. The capsules used in COSMOS delivered a consistent dose of 500 mg of cocoa flavanols per day, a level unlikely to be achieved through chocolate consumption alone.
For now, supplements appear to be the most practical option for those interested in harnessing cocoa’s potential benefits. Still, the study’s authors stress that more research is needed to confirm whether lowering hsCRP translates into concrete improvements in longevity, cognition, or mobility.
A Promising Step, With Limits
The findings add to growing evidence that targeting inflammation could be an effective way to promote healthier aging. Still, this does not mean cocoa extract is a magic bullet. The study shows benefits for one key marker of inflammation, but it does not prove that people will live longer or avoid disease because of it.
The participants were mostly White, healthy, older adults, so the results may not apply to everyone. Only one specific cocoa extract was tested, and some of the immune signals measured showed no clear changes. More research is needed to confirm whether the lowered inflammation actually translates into better health outcomes across different groups of people.
Even so, the results are encouraging. For older adults looking for safe, practical ways to support their health, cocoa extract may offer one more tool alongside exercise, good sleep, and balanced nutrition.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting supplements.
Paper Summary
Methodology
This study was an ancillary project within the larger COSMOS trial. Researchers randomly selected 598 generally healthy older adults (average age 70; about half women; 93% non-Hispanic white) who had provided blood samples at baseline, year one, and year two. Participants were randomly assigned to take either cocoa extract supplements (500 mg of flavanols daily, including 80 mg of (−)-epicatechin) or identical placebo pills. Five inflammation-related biomarkers were measured in blood samples using blinded laboratory testing, with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) serving as the main outcome.
Results
Cocoa extract slowed the usual age-related increase in hsCRP. Compared with placebo, supplementation led to an 8.4% yearly reduction, equivalent to a 0.515 mg/L lower hsCRP level after two years. The effect was strongest among participants with higher baseline hsCRP, who saw nearly 38% annual reductions. Cocoa extract also increased interferon-gamma by 6.8% per year compared with placebo, though the clinical meaning of this remains unclear. Other markers—interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-10—showed no consistent changes.
Limitations
The trial population was mostly white, healthy, and older, limiting generalizability to other groups. Participants were selected to remain free of cardiovascular disease and cancer during the study, preventing direct assessment of long-term clinical outcomes. Blood was collected using multiple methods, which could affect results. Only one cocoa extract formulation was tested, and subgroup analyses may have been underpowered.
Funding and Disclosures
The work was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health. COSMOS received infrastructure support and study pills from Mars Edge (a division of Mars Inc.) and Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. Lead investigators Dr. JoAnn Manson and Dr. Howard Sesso reported receiving investigator-initiated grants from these companies, which had no role in study design, analysis, or manuscript preparation.
Publication Information
Li S, Hamaya R, Zhu H, et al.
“Effects of 2-year cocoa extract supplementation on inflammaging biomarkers in older US adults: findings from the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study randomised clinical trial,” was published in Age and Ageing on September 17, 2025.
DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afaf269
Without doing a nanosecond of research, I can say - unequivocally - that the answer is “Yes!”
Most certainly...
No- it would be taste-ist- i never liked dark chocolate taste- but light chocolate i do like- has nothing to do with race- and everything to do with taste preference- now with coffee it’s just the opposite- i like coffee black- not with milk to lighten it-
My wife likes her men like she likes her coffee.
Ground up and in the freezer.
lol hadnt heard that one before-
“I figured out the dosage last time this line of research was discussed.
I think it’s something like 4-5lbs of dark chocolate a day.”
I’m good with that.
If that were true I’d still be twelve years old.
Hhhmmm...I need to add cocoa to my curry
As I always say, chocolate is medicine!
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