Cocoa, dark chocolate and heart health
What it found
Cocoa and dark chocolate are linked to lower blood pressure and better heart risk factors, but the overall benefit is still debated.
The evidence comes from population observations and proposed mechanisms, not a single new study.
What they found
Studies in people
Kuna population observation
People of the Kuna Indian population showed an impressive cardiovascular health benefit from cocoa. The same benefit has not been as strong in other populations.
Studies in people and animals
Possible role in risk
For many people, "healthy" dark chocolate may play a pleasurable part in lowering heart disease risk.
Other findings
Flavanols and theobromine
Flavanols and theobromine may help blood vessel function. This could improve several things tied to heart disease, such as high blood pressure, blood clotting, insulin resistance and high cholesterol.
No agreed mechanism
Several ways cocoa might help the heart have been suggested, but scientists have not reached agreement on cocoa's role in heart health.
Growth and production
The benefits of cocoa may change at different stages of growth, development and production.
What the authors conclude
“it appears that for many people "healthy" dark chocolate may, indeed, provide a pleasurable role in CVD risk reduction”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the objectives of this review are to discuss the links between cocoa and lower blood pressure and improved heart disease risk.
- They also aim to describe the possible mechanisms for these potential benefits and to highlight things to consider when using cocoa as a dietary supplement.
How it was done
Dark chocolate and cocoa products are popular, but whether they truly benefit health is still controversial. Observations of the Kuna Indian population showed a striking heart health benefit from cocoa, yet this has not been as strong in other groups.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This review pulls together observations and proposed mechanisms. It cannot prove that cocoa or dark chocolate directly causes better heart health.
- The heart benefit seen in the Kuna population has not been as strong in other groups, so the findings may not apply to everyone.
The paper
- Title
- Chocolate--guilty pleasure or healthy supplement?
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Latham LS, Hensen ZK, Minor DS (2014). Chocolate--guilty pleasure or healthy supplement?. Journal of clinical hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.). doi:10.1111/jch.12223Free full textPubMed 24734311DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error