How Much Epicatechin and Cocoa Flavanols Should a Supplement Have Per Serving?

There is no official daily requirement for either number, but the most useful benchmark is the COSMOS research dose: about 500 mg of cocoa flavanols, including roughly 80 mg of (-)-epicatechin, per day. Of the two figures, standardized epicatechin is the one worth checking first, because it is the specific flavanol most cocoa research is anchored to. For reference, CCV-3® lists 1,200 mg of cocoa flavanols and 600 mg of epicatechin per scoop.

Start with the research benchmark

Since regulators publish no recommended intake, the sensible floor to look for is what the science actually used. The COSMOS trial (Sesso et al., Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 2022, in more than 21,000 older adults) supplied about 500 mg of cocoa flavanols daily, roughly 80 mg of it epicatechin. Separately, and for a different purpose, EU regulators authorized a specific 200 mg cocoa-flavanol statement about maintaining blood-vessel elasticity; that 200 mg figure is a European labeling threshold, not the COSMOS dose, and the two should never be blended. Use the 500 mg research amount as your reference point when reading a label.

Why epicatechin is the number to standardize

"Cocoa flavanols" names a whole family of compounds, which is why total-flavanol claims can look impressive while telling you little about consistency. Epicatechin is the measurable, standardizable member of that family, so a disclosed epicatechin figure is a better signal of what you are actually getting. This is also why we do not claim the highest raw flavanol count: FlavaNaturals FlavaMix advertises about 900 mg of total flavanols per serving, but without a standardized epicatechin number to compare against. Our edge is the disclosed epicatechin per serving, not the biggest headline flavanol total.

How CCV-3 reads on the label

Against that benchmark, CCV-3 lists 1,200 mg of cocoa flavanols, more than double the amount used in COSMOS, and 600 mg of standardized epicatechin, well above the roughly 80 mg in the research, all from non-alkalized cacao in a zero-sugar drink mix. Whether you prioritize the total flavanol figure or the standardized epicatechin, both are printed plainly on the serving. Compare the panel yourself and Meet CCV-3 →.

Is there an official RDA for cocoa flavanols?

No. There is no established recommended daily allowance. The COSMOS research used about 500 mg of cocoa flavanols per day, which is the closest thing to a widely cited reference amount.

What is the EFSA amount, and is it the same thing?

In the EU, 200 mg of cocoa flavanols per day is authorized for a specific statement that cocoa flavanols help maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, which contributes to normal blood flow. That is a European regulatory figure, distinct from the 500 mg COSMOS dose, and not a US claim.

Why focus on epicatechin over total flavanols?

Total flavanols is a broad category that varies in composition. Epicatechin is the standardized, measurable marker, so a clearly disclosed epicatechin number tells you more about consistency than a headline flavanol total does.