Cocoa Extract Supplements Reduce Inflammation for Healthier Aging, Major Study Finds

Groundbreaking Trial: Cocoa Extract Shows Promise as an Anti-Inflammatory Agent for Aging Hearts

BOSTON, MA – September 27, 2025 – Daily supplementation with cocoa extract can significantly reduce systemic inflammation in older adults, a key driver of age-related chronic diseases, according to new findings from the large-scale COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) led by Mass General Brigham. The results, published in Age and Ageing, provide a biological explanation for the previously observed heart-protective effects of cocoa flavanols.

The study focused on “inflammaging” – the chronic, low-grade inflammation associated with aging. Researchers analyzed blood samples from 598 participants over 60 who took either a cocoa extract supplement or a placebo daily for two years.

The key finding was a significant annual reduction of 8.4% in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a major inflammatory marker strongly linked to cardiovascular disease risk, in the group taking cocoa extract.

“Our interest started on the basis of cocoa-related reductions in cardiovascular disease,” said corresponding author Howard Sesso, ScD, MPH, of Brigham and Women's Hospital. “We wanted to see whether multi-year cocoa extract supplementation could modulate inflammaging — and the data suggests it does.”

This reduction in hsCRP may explain the 27% decrease in cardiovascular disease mortality observed in the broader COSMOS trial, which involved over 21,000 participants. The study highlights the potential of flavanol-rich, plant-based foods in promoting healthier aging.

“This study calls for more attention to the advantage of plant-based foods for cardiovascular health,” added Sesso. “It reinforces the importance of a diverse, colorful, plant-based diet — especially in the context of inflammation.”

While not a replacement for a healthy diet, this research positions cocoa extract supplements as a promising complementary strategy for supporting heart health and mitigating the effects of inflammatory aging.