Written By: N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe | Published : August 4, 2025 5:41 PM IST
Chocolates have always been observed as unhealthy, which can potentially cause high blood sugar and other illnesses. Surprisingly, a new study has found that a natural compound in chocolate can give Good Cholesterol a slight lift.
The study, which is now published in the Food Science & Nutrition, titled "The Effect of Theobromine Supplementation on HDL-c Subclasses...Clinical Trial," reveals that participants who took theobromine supplements for 12 weeks saw a modest rise in HDL cholesterol, which could have a major impact on heart health on its own.
Research shows that whether you consume raw dark chocolate or take it as a supplement, you can benefit from cocoa by improving blood pressure, bad LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and blood sugar. Most of the benefits come from the polyphenols and theobromine, antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and protect your blood vessels.
To conduct the randomised trial, researchers at the Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in Kermanshah, Iran, ran a 12-week study, where 72 adults aged 40-55 with health conditions like obesity and metabolic syndrome were observed.
During the study period, two groups were divided, and participants were assigned to take a daily dose of 450 mg of theobromine supplement or a placebo. In addition, everyone followed a restricted diet where daily calorie intake was tailored according to each person's needs.
Apart from it, the participants were also restricted to consuming certain foods containing cocoa and limiting caffeine intake, with no more than four cups of coffee, tea, or cola in a day.
The researchers examined the HDL cholesterol levels of all 72 adults, including the subtypes: HDL2 and HDL3. Additionally, changes in the activity of two genes: PPAR- and Sirt1.
According to the available data, at the beginning of the observation, the group taking the theobromine had an average HDL cholesterol level of 41.3 mg/dL, while the placebo group had a slightly higher level at 42.4 mg/dL.
After the 12-week analysis, participants who took the theobromine supplements showed a little increase in overall HDL cholesterol by about 0.34 mg/dL on average. In contrast, the placebo group experienced a decrease of about 1.24 mg/dL. Both numbers are considered normal for adults.
