Sidney Oliveira / AG.Pará file
A new study has revealed that a daily Flavanol -rich cocoa extract supplement helps to combat the “inflammation” of the age -related heart.
It is the largest study of the genre performed to date. It was last week in the newspaper Age and Ageing.
The findings add biological support to previous evidence that Cocoa Flavanois can help protect the heart.
In addition, this study explains how plant compounds influence the aging process, reducing “inflammation”.
Scientists investigated changes in five age -related inflammation markers among participants who have received daily cocoa supplements for several years.
As detailed to, the data covered 598 participants randomly selected from the cosmos study (COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study) – A large random, double -blind and placebo -controlled study involving 21,442 participants 60 years or older.
A daily extract supplement containing 500 mg of cocoa flavanols was tested and, in this mixture, about 80 mg came from a single compound called epicatequina – Considered one of the most important flavanols for the health of the heart and blood vessels.
“Our interest in cocoa extract and inflammation began based on the reductions of cardiovascular diseases related to cocoa”, Told New Atlas, the corresponding author Howard Sexassociated epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
“We wanted to check if cocoa extract supplementation for several years compared to a placebo could modulate inflammation – and data suggest yes,” the researcher praises.
Encouraging results
In the new study, scientists analyzed blood samples collected from the 598 participants (average age of 70) to measure various inflammation biomarkers:
- Three proinflammatory proteins (HSCRP, IL-6 and TNF-α):
- an immunomedial protein (IFN-γ, or interferon-gamma);
- An anti-inflammatory protein (IL-10).
Comparing the changes in these biomarkers measured in the base line and in various annual follow-up controls, the markers were generally quite consistent. However, the HSCRP levels have decreased Significantly at 8.4% each year, compared to placebo.
This is a significant result because the high sensitivity C-reactive protein- HSCRP – It is an inflammatory marker which may signal an added risk of cardiovascular disease.
The benefits of cocoa (and not only)
Previous studies had already shown that cocoa extract reduces inflammation markers, that scientists consider fundamental to slow the aging process and promote healthy aging in older adults.
“Although cocoa extract does not replace a healthy lifestyle, these results are encouraging and enhance their potential role in modulating inflammation as we get older,” said the senior author Yanbin DongDirector of Georgia Prevention Institute (GPI).
Previous studies associated the compounds of cocoa to and.
However, it is worth noting that in these studies, as well as in the Cosmos essay, the supplements made of cocoa contained flavanols that are also present in foods like tea, berries and grapes.
As such, the results may reflect the broader benefits of this family of vegetable chemicals, and Not just cocoa.
“This study draws more attention to Advantages of food -based foods for cardiovascular health, including rich cocoa products in flavanols; And it reinforces the importance of a diverse diet based on plants, ”said Howard Sesso.
