Summary of the Study on Cocoa Extract,Inflammation,and Cardiovascular Health
This article details a follow-up study to the large-scale COSMOS trial,which previously showed a 27% reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality with cocoa extract supplementation in adults over 60. This new research investigates how cocoa extract might achieve this benefit, focusing on inflammaging – the age-related chronic low-grade inflammation that contributes to cardiovascular disease.
Key Findings:
* Reduced Inflammation: Analysis of blood samples from 598 COSMOS participants revealed that cocoa extract supplementation led to an 8.4% annual decrease in hsCRP, a key biomarker of inflammation, compared to the placebo group.
* Other Biomarkers: While hsCRP decreased,other inflammation biomarkers (IL-6,TNF-α,IL-10,IFN-γ) remained relatively stable or showed modest increases. Interestingly, IFN-γ (an immune-related cytokine) increased, prompting further research.
* Link to Cardiovascular Benefits: Researchers believe the reduction in hsCRP may explain the cardio-protective effects observed in the original COSMOS trial.
* Potential Gender Differences: A small reduction in IL-6 was observed in female participants, but not in males, suggesting potential gender-specific effects.
* Plant-Based Diet Emphasis: The study reinforces the importance of a diverse, plant-based diet, especially those rich in flavanols like cocoa, for cardiovascular health.
Study Details:
* Trial: Follow-up analysis of data from the COSMOS trial (2014-2020), involving 21,442 participants over 60.
* Focus: Measuring changes in five inflammaging biomarkers over 2 years.
* Funding: Supported by the National Institutes of Health and investigator-initiated grants from Mars Edge and Pfizer/Haleon (who provided study materials). Importantly, these companies had no influence on the study design or conduct.
Future Research:
The researchers plan to continue analyzing the COSMOS data to investigate whether cocoa extract (and a multivitamin regimen used in the original trial) can further curb severe inflammaging and impact other age-related health outcomes. They also aim to understand the significance of the observed increase in IFN-γ.
