Key Points
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A new study from King’s College London suggests that theobromine, a natural compound in cocoa, may help slow biological aging by influencing DNA methylation and telomere length.
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Researchers found that people with higher theobromine levels in their blood tended to have a biological age younger than their chronological age.
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Although chocolate has been associated with lower blood pressure and a decreased risk of Type 2 diabetes, experts emphasize that consuming it in moderation is important because of its sugar and fat content.
Nibbling on a little piece of chocolate as part of your “little treat” routine? That’s great, because that tasty chocolate could hold the key to slowing down your aging.
In December, researchers at King’s College London published their findings in the journal Aging, examining theobromine, a “common plant compound that comes from cocoa,” which they noted “could have anti-aging properties.”
As the team also explained, it’s one of many plant compounds in the human diet that can influence aging. Although theobromine, which they also pointed out is the compound that makes chocolate poisonous to dogs, has been linked to a few other health benefits, including lowering a person’s risk of heart disease, it hasn’t been extensively studied with respect to its potential effects on genetics.
So, the team set out to examine biological age markers, which indicate “how old your body seems based on its health and function,” rather than merely measuring age by the number of years someone has been alive. To assess how the compound in chocolate affected biological age, the team used data from two European cohort studies, including 509 participants from the TwinsUK study and 1,160 from the KORA study.
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The team noted that they used two tests to assess the biological age of the study participants: one that examines chemical changes in DNA to estimate how quickly someone is aging, and another that estimates the length of their telomeres, which are the “protective caps on the ends of your chromosomes.” The shorter those telomeres, the stronger the association with aging.
After analyzing all available data for each participant, researchers found that those with higher levels of theobromine in their blood were more likely to have a biological age younger than their chronological age. “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,” Dr. Ramy Saad, lead researcher at King’s College London, said in a statement. “This approach could lead us to important discoveries toward aging, and beyond, in common and rare diseases.”
This isn’t the only study to highlight the benefits of chocolate consumption. In May 2025, researchers published their findings in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, showing that regular consumption of chocolate (and tea) may help lower your blood pressure.
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And in 2024, researchers found that people who consumed at least five ounces of any type of chocolate per week had a 10% lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than those who never or rarely consumed chocolate. Even better, those who ate at least five servings of dark chocolate per week had a 21% lower risk of Type 2 diabetes.
A simple way to add dark chocolate to your routine
If you want to enjoy dark chocolate’s potential perks without overdoing it, try pairing a small square (about one ounce) of 70% cacao or higher chocolate with a handful of nuts or fresh berries. The protein and fiber can help balance blood sugar — and turn your “little treat” into a more satisfying snack.
The authors of the King’s College study stressed that while their findings show a positive link between dark chocolate and aging, that doesn’t mean eating chocolate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner will turn you back into a teen. In fact, they noted that excessive consumption can have adverse effects due to its sugar and fat content. As Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, a professor of human nutrition at King’s College, added, this is just the start of their research. The team hopes to examine the data more closely to determine whether the effect is unique to theobromine or whether the anti-aging effect arises from theobromine interacting with other compounds in dark chocolate.
“This study identifies another molecular mechanism by which naturally occurring compounds in cocoa may support health,” said Dr. Ricardo Costeira, a postdoctoral research associate at King’s College London. “While more research is needed, the findings highlight the value of population-level analyses in aging and genetics.”
Reviewed by
Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, CLEC: Lauren is an award-winning registered dietitian and three-time book author, with more than 22 years in the field.
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