The study, conducted at King’s College London and published today in the journal Aging, found that people with higher levels of theobromine (a caffeine-like compound in cocoa beans) in their blood had fewer markers of biological aging.
“[Theobromine] could help slow down how our cells age,” says Candace Pumper, RDN, a staff dietician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, who was not involved in the study.
However, she cautions, the research is in its infancy, and a lot more work needs to be done before doctors and dietitians start recommending a daily serving of dark chocolate.
“This study is not a permission slip to start eating a lot more dark chocolate,” says Scott Keatley, RD, CDN, a dietitian-nutritionist and co-owner of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy in New York City.
Still, the findings are intriguing. Here’s what the research uncovered.
The Study Linked Theobromine With Anti-Aging Markers
For the study, researchers analyzed data from about 1,700 people living in Europe. The scientists looked at several factors, including compounds circulating in the blood and two assessments of biological aging.
The researchers discovered that people with higher levels of theobromine in their blood had a biological age that was less than their actual age. The researchers also looked at other metabolites and compounds in cocoa and coffee. They did not find the same link between those compounds and a lower biological age.
What Is Theobromine?
Theobromine is a natural compound found in cocoa beans, and it is one of the main bioactive chemicals in dark chocolate. “It is in the same family as caffeine, but it is milder,” Keatley explains.
“Exact proportions can vary across foods and also depend on food processing methods,” says senior study author Jordana Bell, PhD, a professor in epigenomics at King’s College London.
Theobromine is known for supporting mood, focus, and overall vascular health, according to Keri Gans, RD, CDN, a dietitian-nutritionist and author of The Small Change Diet. “If you’re eating chocolate, this is one of the compounds contributing to its potential benefits,” she says.
Why Chocolate Compounds Might Slow Aging
Dr. Bell stresses that the exact reason why theobromine may cause a younger biological age isn’t clear. Theobromine itself may directly impact lifespan, or it may enhance the effects of other compounds in dark chocolate that have a beneficial effect on health, she says — for example, polyphenols, which are antioxidants found in plants that reduce inflammation and lower disease risk.
“These other compounds are also abundant in cocoa,” Bell points out.
But theobromine acts on different areas of the body that can fuel the aging process, which may help to dial back the clock, Keatley says. “It sits at a crossroads of blood vessel health, inflammation, and oxidative stress, all of which drive how fast our cells ‘wear out,’” he says.
Should You Eat More Dark Chocolate?
Bell cautions against using the findings as a reason to eat a lot of dark chocolate. “Eating more dark chocolate isn’t automatically beneficial, as it also contains sugar, fat, and other compounds,” she says. “Further research is needed to understand this association in more detail.”
Keatley agrees. “Higher theobromine levels are associated with younger biological age, but the data are observational,” he says. Having too much dark chocolate can work against healthy living goals, he says, so eat it in moderation.
For the most anti-aging benefits, Pumper recommends reaching for dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa. “Chocolates with lower cocoa content are often diluted with sugar and additives, which work against healthy aging,” she explains.
Keatley suggests treating dark chocolate like a tasty supplement to an already healthy diet. “For most adults, about 1 ounce of at least 70 percent cocoa dark chocolate twice a week is a good ceiling,” he says.
Keatley also recommends swapping in dark chocolate for sweets you’re already eating instead of adding it to your existing diet. “Enjoy it after a meal or pair it with fruit or nuts,” Gans says. “You get great flavor, potential benefits, and it fits easily into a balanced lifestyle.”
