As people age, they are more likely to develop different health issues, including cardiometabolic, neurodegenerative, and bone diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 out of 4 people will be 65 or older in the year 2060. As there is such a large population that is at risk of many chronic illnesses, attention is needed to address these issues. A new study has looked into how cocoa extract supplements can affect inflammation markers.
Inflammation markers are substances in the blood that signal there is inflammation in the body. There are many illnesses that are caused by inflammation, some of which include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and rheumatoid arthritis. Cocoa extract supplements are high in flavanols, which are plant-based antioxidants. The primary flavanol in cocoa extract was previously found to improve cardiovascular health, so researchers wanted to understand what effect the extract had on certain inflammation markers over time.
The study focused on women over 65 and men over 60. Three inflammation markers were tracked over the course of two years, and the participants took 500 mg of cocoa extract every day. After analyzing the blood samples of the participants, the researchers found that cocoa extract supplements can help reduce age-related inflammation. Participants who took the cocoa extract supplements saw their levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) drop by about 8% on average every year. This reduction in levels is significant because hsCRP is linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease and stroke.
The researchers also made additional findings, including that the supplement boosted levels of interferon-γ, a protein that is involved in the immune system, by 7% on average every year. However, the cocoa extract supplements did not have an effect on any other inflammation markers, as the results were not significant enough to conclude anything. Another interesting finding of the study was that the researchers found that the benefits of the supplements were more emphasized in those who had higher baseline inflammation.
While the initial findings of the study indicate that cocoa extract supplements can reduce inflammation markers related to aging, more research is needed in this area since the study has its limitations. It is also important to note that these supplements are not a guarantee of a reduction in hsCRP levels and a lower risk of chronic diseases. While cocoa supplements being linked to a reduction in chronic diseases is a promising finding, there are still many pieces of the puzzle to uncover.
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