"Rejuvenation with Chocolate?" Put on Hold— It's Not Chocolate but "Extracts" Challenging Aging: It Was "Cocoa Components" That Eased "Inflammatory Aging" Over Two Years

As part of the U.S. COSMOS study, approximately 600 elderly participants consumed 500mg/day of cocoa-derived flavanols for two years, resulting in an 8.4% annual reduction in the inflammation marker hsCRP. The effect was more pronounced in individuals with higher baseline inflammation, and a slight increase in IFN-γ was also observed. Combined with previous analyses reporting a 27% reduction in cardiovascular mortality (though the total events were not significant), these findings suggest that the suppression of **inflammaging** may be a contributing factor to cardiovascular protection. However, this cannot be substituted with chocolate treats, as dosage management with standardized supplements is essential. The direct effects on clinical outcomes such as lifespan, cognition, and function remain uncertain, necessitating further trials. While social media spreads the misconception of "rejuvenation with chocolate," cautious perspectives highlight the importance of disclosing conflicts of interest and the significance of lifestyle habits.