Cocoa Extract
Cocoa, a powder that is rich in polyphenols, is used to make chocolate. Cocoa products can have effects like lowering blood pressure and inflammation and have resulted in small improvements to some outcomes in cardiovascular disease.
Quick Answer
What it is
Cocoa, a powder that is rich in polyphenols, is used to make chocolate. Cocoa products can have effects like lowering blood pressure and inflammation and have resulted in small improvements to some outcomes in cardiovascular disease.
Key findings
- Grade B: Blood Flow (Obesity)
- Grade C: Adrenaline
- Grade C: All-Cause Mortality (Cardiovascular Disease)
Safety
No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.
ℹ️ Quick Facts: Cocoa Extract
Quick Facts: Cocoa Extract
- Best Evidence:Grade A
- Conditions Studied:25
- Research Outcomes:269
- Grade B Findings:1
- Key Effect:High Blood Pressure
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B1
C11
D12
25 conditions · 269 outcomes
Detailed Outcomes
Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
|
B
Blood Flow
Moderate Increase
69 participants
moderate↑Improves
?
Glycemic Control
3 studies84 participants
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
84 participants
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
3 studies84 participants
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
3 studies84 participants
↓Improves
?
Weight
3 studies84 participants
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
35 participants
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
69 participants
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
35 participants
↓Improves
?
Insulin
2 studies35 participants
↑Worsens
?
Interleukin 6
2 studies35 participants
↓Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
2 studies35 participants
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
69 participants
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
Fat Oxidation
49 participants
↑Improves
?
Fibrinogen
1 study15 participants
↑Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study49 participants
↓Improves
?
IL-1Ra
1 study15 participants
↓Improves
?
Interleukin 1-alpha
1 study15 participants
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 1-beta
1 study15 participants
↓Improves
?
Kidney Function
1 study15 participants
↑Improves
?
LDL Oxidation
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study15 participants
↑Worsens
?
Muscle Mass
1 study20 participants
↑Improves
C
Blood Flow
Moderate Increase
43 participants
moderate↑Improves
?
Nitric Oxide
2 studies43 participants
↑Improves
?
Peripheral Vascular Disease Symptoms
43 participants
↓Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
22 participants
↓Improves
C
Adrenaline
Small Decrease
31 participants
small↓Worsens
D
Adiponectin
No effect
1 study20 participants
none
?
Blood Pressure
2499 participants
↓Improves
?
Blood Flow
307 participants
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
2218 participants
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
8 studies2218 participants
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
2229 participants
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
7 studies2190 participants
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
2070 participants
↓Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
145 participants
↓Improves
?
Platelet Aggregation
234 participants
↑Worsens
?
Weight
5 studies2155 participants
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
4 studies77 participants
↑Improves
?
Heart Rate
4 studies167 participants
↓Improves
?
Insulin
4 studies77 participants
↑Worsens
?
LDL Oxidation
3 studies83 participants
↓Improves
?
Nitric Oxide
3 studies110 participants
↑Improves
?
Arterial Stiffness
47 participants
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
118 participants
↓Improves
?
Noradrenaline
2 studies54 participants
↑Improves
?
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
1 study31 participants
↑Improves
?
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
1 study28 participants
↑Improves
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
1 study1986 participants
↓Improves
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
Cognition
1 study90 participants
↑Improves
?
Cortisol
1 study31 participants
↓Improves
?
Food Intake
1 study30 participants
↑Worsens
?
HbA1c
1986 participants
↓Improves
?
Leptin
1 study20 participants
↑Improves
?
Memory
1 study90 participants
↑Improves
?
Plasma Vitamin E
1 study28 participants
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
vLDL-C
1 study90 participants
↓Improves
?
Waist circumference
1 study1986 participants
↓Improves
C
All-Cause Mortality
Small Improvement
908390 participants
small↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
918 participants
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
986 participants
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
21 studies986 participants
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
459 participants
↓Improves
?
Insulin Resistance
6 studies181 participants
↓Improves
?
Insulin
5 studies153 participants
↑Worsens
?
Total cholesterol
3 studies3303 participants
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
3303 participants
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
1317 participants
↓Improves
?
Blood Flow
20 participants
↑Improves
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
1 study1986 participants
↓Improves
?
Cardiovascular Disease Mortality
1 study908390 participants
↓Improves
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
1 study20 participants
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
1986 participants
↓Improves
?
Heart Failure Risk
114009 participants
↑Worsens
?
Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease
114009 participants
↓Improves
?
Stroke Risk
1 study114009 participants
↑Worsens
?
Waist circumference
1 study1986 participants
↓Improves
?
Weight
1 study1986 participants
↓Improves
C
Arterial Stiffness
Small Improvement
30 participants
small↓Improves
?
Blood Flow
149 participants
↑Improves
?
Blood Pressure
109 participants
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
149 participants
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
2 studies79 participants
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
79 participants
↑Improves
?
Insulin
2 studies100 participants
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
2 studies79 participants
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
2 studies79 participants
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
70 participants
↓Improves
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
1 study70 participants
↓Improves
?
Fat Oxidation
49 participants
↑Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study49 participants
↓Improves
?
Interleukin 1-beta
1 study70 participants
↓Improves
?
Weight
1 study49 participants
↓Improves
C
Blood Flow
Moderate Increase
24 participants
moderate↑Improves
?
Photoprotection
3 studies141 participants
↑Improves
?
Skin Dryness
141 participants
↑Improves
?
Skin Elasticity
2 studies117 participants
↑Improves
C
Blood Flow
Moderate Increase
41 participants
moderate↑Improves
?
Blood glucose
41 participants
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
41 participants
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
41 participants
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
41 participants
↓Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study41 participants
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
41 participants
↑Improves
?
Kidney Function
1 study41 participants
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study41 participants
↓Improves
?
Mitochondrial Protection
5 participants
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study41 participants
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
41 participants
↓Improves
?
Urea
1 study41 participants
↑Improves
?
Weight
1 study41 participants
↓Improves
C
Blood Flow
Moderate Increase
49 participants
moderate↑Improves
?
Blood Pressure
85 participants
↓Improves
?
Weight
2 studies85 participants
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
1 study36 participants
↓Improves
?
Fat Oxidation
49 participants
↑Improves
?
Glycemic Control
1 study49 participants
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
49 participants
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study49 participants
↓Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
1 study36 participants
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study49 participants
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
49 participants
↓Improves
C
Blood Pressure
Small Improvement
60 participants
small↓Improves
?
Intraocular Pressure
1 study60 participants
↑Improves
C
Blood Pressure
Small Improvement
22 participants
small↓Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study22 participants
↓Improves
?
Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient
1 study22 participants
↑Improves
?
Portal Hypertension Signs
1 study22 participants
↓Improves
C
Blood Pressure
Small Improvement
60 participants
small↓Improves
?
Intraocular Pressure
1 study60 participants
↑Improves
C
Adrenaline
Small Decrease
65 participants
small↓Worsens
?
Blood Viscosity
1 study65 participants
↑Improves
?
Noradrenaline
1 study65 participants
↑Improves
D
Attention
No effect
178 participants
none
?
Memory
2 studies162 participants
↑Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
2 studies162 participants
↑Improves
?
Working Memory
2 studies162 participants
↑Improves
?
Blood Pressure
90 participants
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
90 participants
↓Improves
?
Cerebral Blood Flow
1 study16 participants
↑Improves
?
Cerebral Oxygenation
1 study16 participants
↑Improves
?
Cognition
1 study90 participants
↑Improves
?
Fatigue Symptoms
1 study16 participants
↓Improves
?
Stress Signs and Symptoms
1 study72 participants
↓Improves
D
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
No effect
2 studies34 participants
none
?
Cortisol
2 studies34 participants
↓Improves
?
Exercise-Induced Oxidation
2 studies34 participants
↑Worsens
?
Fat Oxidation
34 participants
↑Improves
?
Heart Rate
2 studies34 participants
↓Improves
?
Insulin
2 studies34 participants
↑Worsens
?
Interleukin 6
2 studies34 participants
↓Improves
?
Neutrophil Count
2 studies34 participants
↑Improves
?
Rating of Perceived Exertion
2 studies34 participants
↑Improves
?
Anaerobic Capacity
1 study14 participants
↑Improves
?
Blood Lactate (Exercise)
14 participants
↑Worsens
?
Glucagon
1 study20 participants
↑Worsens
?
IL-1Ra
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
Interleukin 10
1 study20 participants
↑Improves
?
Neutrophil Activity
1 study14 participants
↑Improves
D
Adiponectin
No effect
1 study20 participants
none
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
439 participants
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
10 studies439 participants
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
439 participants
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
253 participants
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
6 studies570 participants
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
5 studies115 participants
↑Improves
?
Insulin
5 studies77 participants
↑Worsens
?
Blood Flow
100 participants
↑Improves
?
Blood glucose
61 participants
↓Improves
?
Heart Rate
4 studies98 participants
↓Improves
?
Fat Oxidation
83 participants
↑Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
76 participants
↓Improves
?
Weight
3 studies84 participants
↓Improves
?
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
2 studies34 participants
↑Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
41 participants
↓Improves
?
Cortisol
2 studies34 participants
↓Improves
?
Exercise-Induced Oxidation
2 studies34 participants
↑Worsens
?
Interleukin 6
2 studies34 participants
↓Improves
?
Neutrophil Count
2 studies34 participants
↑Improves
?
Platelet Aggregation
148 participants
↑Worsens
?
Rating of Perceived Exertion
2 studies34 participants
↑Improves
?
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
1 study28 participants
↑Improves
?
Anaerobic Capacity
1 study14 participants
↑Improves
?
Blood Lactate (Exercise)
14 participants
↑Worsens
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
Glucagon
1 study20 participants
↑Worsens
?
Homocysteine
1 study19 participants
↓Improves
?
IL-1Ra
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
Interleukin 10
1 study20 participants
↑Improves
?
Leptin
1 study20 participants
↑Improves
?
Plasma Vitamin E
1 study28 participants
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
Uric Acid
1 study19 participants
↓Improves
D
Adiponectin
No effect
1 study20 participants
none
?
Blood Pressure
1772 participants
↓Improves
?
Blood Flow
100 participants
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
107 participants
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
5 studies107 participants
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
87 participants
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
4 studies79 participants
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
4 studies79 participants
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
79 participants
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
60 participants
↓Improves
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
3 studies60 participants
↓Improves
?
Insulin
3 studies59 participants
↑Worsens
?
Weight
3 studies76 participants
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
2 studies56 participants
↓Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
2 studies40 participants
↓Improves
?
Food Intake
1 study30 participants
↑Worsens
?
Homocysteine
1 study19 participants
↓Improves
?
Interleukin 6
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
LDL Oxidation
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
Leptin
1 study20 participants
↑Improves
?
Muscle Mass
1 study20 participants
↑Improves
?
Nitric Oxide
1 study30 participants
↑Improves
?
Platelet Aggregation
28 participants
↑Worsens
?
Uric Acid
1 study19 participants
↓Improves
D
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
No effect
1 study20 participants
none
?
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
1 study28 participants
↑Improves
?
Cortisol
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
Exercise-Induced Oxidation
1 study20 participants
↑Worsens
?
Fat Oxidation
20 participants
↑Improves
?
Glucagon
1 study20 participants
↑Worsens
?
Heart Rate
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
Insulin
1 study20 participants
↑Worsens
?
Interleukin 10
1 study20 participants
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
1 study20 participants
↓Improves
?
Neutrophil Count
1 study20 participants
↑Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
28 participants
↓Improves
?
Plasma Vitamin E
1 study28 participants
↑Improves
?
Rating of Perceived Exertion
1 study20 participants
↑Improves
D
Heart Failure Risk
No effect
106109 participants
none
?
Mitochondrial Protection
5 participants
↑Improves
D
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
No effect
28 participants
none
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
28 participants
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study28 participants
↓Improves
?
Platelet Aggregation
28 participants
↑Worsens
D
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
No effect
1 study14 participants
none
?
Cortisol
1 study14 participants
↓Improves
?
Exercise-Induced Oxidation
1 study14 participants
↑Worsens
?
Fat Oxidation
14 participants
↑Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study14 participants
↓Improves
?
Insulin
1 study14 participants
↑Worsens
?
Interleukin 6
1 study14 participants
↓Improves
?
Neutrophil Activity
1 study14 participants
↑Improves
?
Neutrophil Count
1 study14 participants
↑Improves
D
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
No effect
23 participants
none
?
LDL Oxidation
1 study23 participants
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study23 participants
↓Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
23 participants
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study23 participants
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
23 participants
↓Improves
?
vLDL-C
1 study23 participants
↓Improves
D
Attention
No effect
72 participants
none
?
Memory
1 study72 participants
↑Improves
?
Stress Signs and Symptoms
1 study72 participants
↓Improves
?
Subjective Well-Being
1 study72 participants
↑Improves
?
Working Memory
1 study72 participants
↑Improves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
1 study28 participants
none
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
28 participants
↓Improves
?
Acne Symptoms
13 participants
↓Improves
?
Kidney Oxygenation
10 participants
↑Improves
?
Triglycerides
22 participants
↓Improves
Evidence by Condition
Best grade per condition (each condition may have multiple outcomes)
Research Citations (56)
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