Scientists at a leading hospital in the United States have discovered that a substance present in cocoa can significantly safeguard the heart and decrease the chance of dying from cardiovascular causes by nearly 33%.

At Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts, researchers investigated how cocoa extract supplements could lower inflammation markers in blood linked to increased risks of heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cognitive deterioration, dementia, type 2 diabetes, and muscle loss associated with aging.

Flavanols are considered the key active component behind the anti-inflammatory properties observed in the cocoa extract.

Flavanols help neutralize free radicals—unstable molecules that induce stress and harm cells, triggering inflammation. They also inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory proteins like cytokines noted in the research and decrease the activation of genes associated with inflammation.

Throughout a year, those taking cocoa extract experienced an eight percent reduction in a significant inflammation marker in comparison to the placebo group, thereby lowering their overall risk of heart disease.

The researchers propose that cocoa extract supplements, costing between $15 and $45, could be a key to mitigating ‘inflammaging.’ This term, derived from ‘inflammation’ and ‘aging,’ describes a chronic, low-grade, systemic inflammation that gradually accumulates in the body as one ages.

Dr. Yanbin Dong, the senior study author and director of Augusta University’s Georgia Prevention Institute, expressed optimism in a statement: ‘Although cocoa extract shouldn’t replace a healthy lifestyle, the findings are promising and suggest its potential in influencing inflammation as we grow older.’

Cocoa flavanol supplements are widely available for purchase online and in health food stores, vitamin shops and pharmacies, but supplements are not regulated tightly and therefore buyers can never be absolutely certain that what they are buying is both safe and effective.

Dr Howard Sesso, associate director of the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said: ‘We also appreciate the important overlap between healthy aging and cardiovascular health, where aging-related inflammation can harden arteries and lead to cardiovascular disease. 

‘Because of that, we wanted to see whether multi-year cocoa extract supplementation versus a placebo could modulate inflammaging—and the data suggests it does.’ 

The findings, published in the journal Age and Ageing, come as part of the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), a landmark clinical trial investigating the health effects of cocoa flavanols by taking 500mg of cocoa extract supplements.

Scientists identified five different markers in the body that play different roles in the generation and reduction of inflammation that affects the heart.

The results showed that cocoa extract had a targeted effect. It significantly reduced levels of hsCRP, a key marker of systemic inflammation associated with heart disease.

After two years, the group taking the cocoa extract saw a significant, year-over-year drop of 8.4 percent in hsCRP.

Conversely, it increased levels of IFN-γ, a marker that plays a vital role in the immune system, stimulating immune cells and ‘killer’ cells to protect against infections and clear tumor cells from the body. 

The three other markers remained mostly unchanged.

The researchers found that the supplement also caused a noticeable increase in a different immune molecule called interferon-gamma.

This, they said, suggests that it may be calming the harmful, chronic inflammation (hsCRP) while potentially enhancing the body’s defensive forces (IFN-γ).

Cardiovascular disease is the nation’s number one killer, responsible for one death every 34 seconds in the US, according to the CDC. 

The researchers emphasized that while the reduction in inflammation is a promising sign, it does not conclusively prove that the supplement will prevent disease or extend lifespans, noting that further study is essential.

Sesso said: ‘This study calls for more attention to the advantage of plant-based foods for cardiovascular health, including cocoa products rich in flavanols.

‘It reinforces the importance of a diverse, colorful, plant-based diet—especially in the context of inflammation.’