Groundbreaking research from the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) suggests that a simple dietary supplement could play a role in combating age-related inflammation, a key driver of chronic disease.
For several years, investigators followed participants over the age of 60 who took a daily cocoa extract supplement. Analysis of blood samples revealed a significant annual reduction of 8.4% in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a major biomarker of inflammation strongly associated with increased risk of heart disease.
This reduction in "inflammaging" may help explain the earlier COSMOS finding that cocoa extract supplementation was linked to a 27% reduction in cardiovascular disease deaths among over 21,000 participants.
"The data suggests that multi-year cocoa extract supplementation could modulate inflammaging," said corresponding author Howard Sesso, ScD, MPH, of Brigham and Women's Hospital. The study highlights the potential of flavanol-rich compounds, found abundantly in cocoa, to support cardiovascular health as we age.
Researchers emphasize that while cocoa extract is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle, this evidence reinforces the importance of a plant-based diet for healthy aging. The study continues to explore the broader effects of cocoa extract and multivitamins on age-related health outcomes.