Chocolate Compounds May Help Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure Over Time: Study Finds - Video

A recent study published in Hypertension has added scientific weight to what chocolate lovers have long hoped-that cocoa, when rich in flavanols, may do more than satisfy cravings. Researchers found that flavanol-rich cocoa extract could play a preventive role in maintaining healthy blood pressure, particularly in older adults with normal levels at the start of the study.

Chocolate has long carried a mixed reputation of being delicious, indulgent, and sometimes guilty. Yet, when it is the right kind that is rich in cocoa flavanols, it may offer more than just pleasure as it can support your cardiovascular system in meaningful ways. We often treat dark chocolate as indulgence but science is quietly telling us that if it is rich in cocoa flavanols, it might also be doing something meaningful for your vascular system.

In this large, randomized clinical trial, researchers followed 8,905 older adults, average age around 71 years, who were free of hypertension at baseline. Participants consumed either a cocoa-extract supplement containing 500 mg of flavanols (including 80 mg epicatechin) or a placebo daily over a median period of 3.4 years. The goal was to assess whether long-term cocoa flavanol intake could help prevent the onset of hypertension.

Overall, the study found no significant reduction in the incidence of hypertension across the entire group. However, in participants whose systolic blood pressure (SBP) at baseline was below 120 mmHg, cocoa extract did show a protective effect—reducing the risk of developing hypertension by about 24% compared with placebo. Interestingly, this benefit began to appear around the two-year mark, suggesting that consistent intake may be key.

The takeaway is clear: “One square of dark chocolate” won’t fix high blood pressure overnight, but consistent consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa might just help keep blood vessels healthier for longer.

Reference: Hamaya R, Li S, Lau J, Allison M, Haring B, Shadyab AH, Matthew N, Martin LW, Rist PM, Manson JE, Sesso HD. Long-Term Effect of Cocoa Extract Supplementation on Incident Hypertension. Hypertension. 2025 Oct;82(10):1653-62.