Theobromine: Chemical Found in Dark Chocolate Could Have Anti-Aging Properties
Scientists at King’s College London have identified strong links between theobromine, a common plant compound from cocoa, and measures of epigenetic aging, suggesting that theobromine is relevant to human aging.
Saad and others. show that the reported beneficial links between theobromine intake on health and aging extend to the molecular epigenetic level in humans. Image credit: Sci.News.
“Coffee and cocoa are widely consumed foods associated with reduced cardiovascular disease and mortality,” said lead author Dr. Ramy Saad and colleagues.
“They share several important alkaloids, including theobromine, caffeine, theophylline, paraxanthine, and 7-methylxanthine.”
“Theobromine and 7-methylxanthine are partial metabolites of caffeine, although both are also found at much higher concentrations in cocoa as unprocessed primary metabolites.”
“Theobromine has previously been associated with multiple aspects of health and aging. For example, studies in model organisms have identified links between theobromine and prolonged lifespan.”
“In addition, several observational studies of human cohorts have reported clear links between theobromine consumption and various aspects of improved health. »
“Despite this, the exact impacts of theobromine on health and aging are not yet fully understood, and the molecular pathways that mediate these effects are largely unknown. »
In the study, researchers compared theobromine levels in people’s blood with blood markers of biological aging.
In two European cohorts, including 509 individuals from TwinsUK and 1,160 from KORA, they found that those who had higher levels of theobromine circulating in their blood had a lower biological age than their actual age.
“Our study reveals links between a key component of dark chocolate and staying younger for longer,” said Professor Jordana Bell, lead author of the study.
“While we’re not saying people should eat more dark chocolate, this research can help us understand how everyday foods can help us live longer, healthier lives.”
The scientists also tested whether other metabolites found in cocoa and coffee showed a similar link.
However, they found that the effect seemed specific to theobromine.
They used two tests to assess the biological age of the people participating in the study.
One studied chemical changes in DNA to estimate how quickly a person ages.
Another estimated the length of telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of your chromosomes. Shorter telomeres are associated with aging and age-related diseases.
“This is a very exciting finding, and the next important questions are what is behind this association and how can we further explore the interactions between food metabolites and our epigenome? » said Dr. Saad.
“This approach could lead us to important discoveries about aging, and beyond, about common and rare diseases. »
“This study identifies another molecular mechanism by which natural compounds in cocoa may promote health,” said Dr. Ricardo Costeira, co-author of the study.
“Although more research is needed, the results of this study highlight the value of population-level analyzes of aging and genetics. »
The results were published on December 10 in the journal Aging.
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Ramy Saad and others. Theobromine is associated with slower epigenetic aging. Agingpublished online December 10, 2025; doi: 10.18632/aging.206344
