Cocoa flavanoles reduced inflammation markers in older adults. The effect can help protect cardiovascular health.
Could cocoa extraction supplements, which are rich in cocoa flavanoles, help reduce inflammation and reduce the risk of chronic disease related to age? In a recent investigation of the Cocoa supplement and study of multivitamin results (cosmos)The researchers of Mass Brigham general and his collaborators tracked five inflammation markers linked to aging in the participants who took daily cocoa extract supplements for several years.
They observed that HSCRP levels, an inflammatory protein associated with higher cardiovascular risk, decline in those who receive the supplement. This finding points to an anti -inflammatory effect that can help explain the protective influence of cocoa on heart health. The results were published in Age and aging.
Nutritional strategies are gaining attention as promising forms to slow down inflammation related to age, often called “inflammation.” Previously, smaller studies suggested that cocoa extract could reduce inflammatory biomarkers, an effect attributed to flavanoles, bioactive compounds present in cocoa grains, as well as foods such as berries, grapes, tea and other plants based sources. To build this evidence and better understand their relevance in humans, scientists launched the large -scale cosmos essay, designed to investigate whether cocoa extract can influence cardiovascular results and if their benefits can be linked to a reduction in inflammation.
Test design and key findings
“Our interest in cocoa and inflammation extract began based on cocoa related reductions in cardiovascular disease“Said the corresponding author Howard Sesso, SCD, MPH, associate director of the Division of Preventive Medicine and associated epidemiologist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Brigham General Health System of Brigham. yes “.
From 2014 to 2020, the Brigham and Women’s hospital conducted the Cosmos essay, a large, randomized, double -blind study, placebo controlled that involved 21,442 participants of 60 years or more. The trial showed that cocoa extract supplementation was related to a 27% reduction in cardiovascular disease deaths.
Biomarker results and future addresses
In this monitoring analysis, the researchers examined blood samples of 598 participants of the COSMOS to assess age -related inflammation markers. They focused on three pro-inflammatory proteins (HSCRP, IL-6 and TNF-α), an anti-inflammatory protein (IL-10) and a protein related to the immune (IFN-γ). In the course of the baseline, one year and two years of follow -up, HSCRP levels fell 8.4% annually in the participants who take cocoa extract compared to the placebo, while the other biomarkers showed few changes or modest increases.
“Interestingly, we also observe an increase in the interferon-γ, a cytokine related to the immune, which opens new questions for future research,” said principal author Yanbin Dong, MD/PHD, director of the Georgia Prevention Institute (GPI) and the cardiologist/geneticist of the population of the Medical College of Georgia/University of Augustus. “While cocoa extract is not a replacement for a healthy lifestyle, these results are encouraging and highlight their potential role in inflammation modulation as we age.
The decrease in HSCRP can help explain the cardioprotective effects observed with the cocoa extract supplement in the largest cosmos test, where participants experienced a reduction in the death of cardiovascular diseases. The researchers said that changes in the other inflammation markers, including a small reduction in the IL-6 observed in female but not masculine participants, justify an additional study. The equipment will continue to evaluate the COSMOS trial to determine if cocoa regimes, and multivitamin, can stop the most severe inflammation, as well as other important health results related to aging.
“This study requires more attention to the advantage of foods based on cardiovascular health plants, including cocoa products rich in flavanoles,” Sesso added. “It reinforces the importance of a diverse, colorful and plants -based diet, especially in the context of inflammation.”
REFERENCE: “Effects of 2-YEAR COCOA EXTRACT SUPPLICATION ON INFLAMMAGING BIOMARKERS IN OLDER US ADULTS: FINDINGS FROM THE COCOA SUPPLEMENT AND MULTIVITAMIN OUTCOMES STUDY RANDOMISED CLINICAL TRIAL” Huang, Joann E Manson, Howard D Sesso and Yanbin Dong, 17 September 2025, Age and aging.
DOI: 10.1093/AGUENCY/AFAF269
Manson and Sesso received subsidies initiated by researchers from Mars Edge, a mars -incorporated segment dedicated to research and nutrition products, for infrastructure support and donation of pills and cosmos study containers, and Pfizer Consumer Healthcare (now Haleon) for the donation of study pills of cosmos and containers during the study. Sesso also reported that they received subsidies initiated by Pure Encapsulations researchers, American pistachio producers and Haleon, and fees and/or trips by conferences from the responsible nutrition council, BASF, Haleon and Nih during the study. No other authors reported any interest conflict for this study.
This work is supported by the National Health Institutes (HL157665). The study of Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin (Cosmos) results has the support of a subsidy initiated by Mars Edge researcher, a Mars segment dedicated to research and nutrition products, which included infrastructure support and the donation of study pills and packaging. Pfizer Consumer Healthcare (now Haleon) provided support through the partial provision of pills and study containers. Cosmos is also partly supported by the National Health Institutes (AG050657, AG071611 and EY025623). None of the companies had a role in the design or test behavior, data collection, data analysis or preparation or review of manuscripts.
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