Study of 1,700 adults finds cocoa compound is linked to slower biological aging
A beloved treat may hold a surprising secret to healthy aging, researchers say, but they warn it’s not a free pass to load up on sweets.
Researchers at King’s College London say theobromine, a natural compound in dark chocolate, is linked to slower biological aging, according to their study of nearly 1,700 adults across the U.K. and Germany. The findings were published this week in the journal Aging.
Participants with higher levels of theobromine consistently appeared biologically younger than their actual age, according to the research. The team detected the slower biological aging by comparing theobromine levels with key aging markers, including DNA-based tests that estimate how fast your body is aging and telomere length, the protective caps on chromosomes that shorten with age and are linked to age-related diseases.