A naturally occurring dietary compound has been linked to biological signs of slower aging.
Higher levels of theobromine in the blood have been linked to signs of slower biological aging in humans. Theobromine is a naturally occurring compound found in cocoa, and the results suggest it may play a role in supporting healthier aging over time.
Biological aging is often studied through epigenetic changes, which reflect how gene activity shifts as the body ages. These changes are measured using blood-based markers such as DNA methylation patterns and telomere length. Together, these indicators provide a more informative picture of aging than chronological age alone.
This research was published in the journal Aging and was led by Ramy Saad from King’s College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, alongside Jordana T. Bell from King’s College London.
Validation Across Independent Cohorts
To strengthen their conclusions, the researchers examined data from two large population studies in Europe. Among 509 women in the TwinsUK cohort, higher concentrations of theobromine were linked to slower biological aging, particularly when assessed using GrimAge, an epigenetic clock designed to estimate the risk of age-related disease and premature death.
The same association was observed in a separate group of 1,160 men and women from the German KORA study, confirming the consistency of the findings across different populations.
