The bitter-bean extract 21,442 older adults took twice a day
The one thing
Cocoa flavanols, about 500 mg a day.
Flavanols are plant compounds in cocoa beans that help blood vessels relax. Most of them are lost when cocoa is processed into chocolate.
Do it today
- Look for a cocoa extract that lists its flavanol amount on the label. The study used 500 mg a day.
- Skip the chocolate bar as a source. You’d need a lot of sugar and calories to get this dose.
- Unsweetened, non-alkalized (not “Dutch-processed”) cocoa powder keeps more flavanols than regular cocoa.
What the study found
Over about 3.6 years, the cocoa group had 27% fewer deaths from cardiovascular disease. Total heart events were 10% lower, but that difference could have been chance.
- Who
- 21,442 adults with an average age of 72, with no heart disease or cancer at the start.
- Type of study
- Large randomized, placebo-controlled trial (COSMOS) led by Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
- Keep in mind
- The main goal of the trial (fewer total heart events) was not clearly met. The death result was a secondary finding that needs confirming.
Source: Sesso et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2022
Educational information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.