Overview
- An analysis of 1,669 adults in the TwinsUK and Germany’s KORA cohorts found higher blood levels of theobromine associated with a lower biological age.
- Biological aging was assessed using DNA methylation epigenetic clocks and DNA methylation–derived telomere length.
- The observed association appeared specific to theobromine, as other cocoa and coffee metabolites tested did not show similar links.
- The peer-reviewed study from King’s College London was published December 10 in the journal Aging, and the authors call for mechanistic research and randomized trials to test causality.
- Experts emphasize that increasing chocolate intake is not advisable because commercial products commonly contain high levels of sugar, fat, and calories.