New research from King's College London shows that theobromine, a common plant compound from cocoa that is abundant in dark chocolate, could have anti-aging properties.
Many people would consider themselves to be a chocolate lover but not many know the right kind of chocolate can actually have health benefits. New research from King's College London shows that theobromine, a common plant compound from cocoa that is abundant in dark chocolate, could have anti-aging properties.
Scientists published their findings in the journal Aging. In it they detailed how they compared levels of theobromine in people's blood with blood-based markers of biological aging.
Someone's biological age is an indication of how old their body is on the inside based on how it functions and is often independent of that person's actual age. These age markers, called methylation, are based on patterns of small "bookmarks" on our DNA that change over the course of a lifetime.
Researchers looked at data from multiple studies and found those individuals who had higher levels of theobromine circulating in their blood had a biological age that was lower than their actual age. They also tested compounds found in coffee, but only found the link to be associated with theobromine.
"Our study finds links between a key component of dark chocolate and staying younger for longer," professor Jordana Bell said. "While we're not saying that people should eat more dark chocolate, this research can help us understand how everyday foods may hold clues to healthier, longer lives."
Scientists tested chemical changes in DNA to estimate how quickly someone was aging. Another way they assessed biological age was to estimate the length of telomeres, the protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Shorter telomeres are considered a marker of aging and age-related disease.
Plant compounds such as theobromine are called alkaloids and they can affect how the body ages by changing the way genes are switched on or off. Theobromine has been shown in other studies to have some heart health benefits.
"This is a very exciting finding, and the next important questions are what is behind this association and how can we explore the interactions between dietary metabolites and our epigenome further," said Dr. Ramy Saad. "This approach could lead us to important discoveries towards aging, and beyond, in common and rare diseases."
