Peer-reviewed evidence

The research behind CCV-3®.

Cacao flavanols are one of the most studied cardiovascular and cognitive nutrients in the published literature. Every claim on this site traces back to one of the ten studies below.

Anchor Studies
Am J Clin Nutr 2022
COSMOS · RCT

"Daily cacao flavanol supplementation reduced cardiovascular death by 27% over 3.6 years."

Sesso HD, Manson JE, Aragaki AK, et al.

N: 21,442 Follow-up: 3.6 yrs PMID: 35294962
View on PubMed
Nature Neuroscience 2014
Cognitive Aging Trial

"High-flavanol cacao intake reversed dentate gyrus age-related decline by an estimated 11 years on neurocognitive testing."

Brickman AM, Khan UA, Provenzano FA, et al.

N: 37 Duration: 3 mo PMID: 25344629
View on PubMed
PNAS 2006
Mechanism Study

"(–)-Epicatechin alone reproduces cacao's vascular effects, identifying the active monomer responsible for nitric oxide–mediated vasodilation."

Schroeter H, Heiss C, Balzer J, et al.

Method: FMD PMID: 16418281
View on PubMed

Heart & Vascular

Cochrane Database 2017
Meta-analysis · 35 RCTs

"Cacao flavanols reduce systolic blood pressure by ~1.8 mmHg, with larger effects in hypertensive subjects."

Ried K, Fakler P, Stocks NP.

N: 1,804 PMID: 28439881
View on PubMed
BMJ 2011
Cohort Meta-analysis

"Highest chocolate intake associated with 37% lower CVD risk and 29% lower stroke risk vs. lowest intake."

Buitrago-Lopez A, Sanderson J, Johnson L, et al.

N: 114,009 Cohorts: 7 PMID: 21875885
View on PubMed
J Nutr 2008
Hypertension RCT

"15 days of high-polyphenol dark chocolate reduced BP ~4 mmHg, improved insulin sensitivity, and increased FMD in hypertensive subjects."

Grassi D, Desideri G, Necozione S, et al.

Duration: 15 d PMID: 18716168
View on PubMed

Brain, Cognition & Bioavailability

PNAS 2023
COSMOS-Web · 3-yr RCT

"500 mg flavanols daily for 3 years restored hippocampal-dependent memory in older adults with low baseline flavanol intake."

Brickman AM, Yeung LK, Alschuler DM, et al.

N: 3,562 PMID: 37252983
View on PubMed
Am J Clin Nutr 2015
Cacao Study · RCT

"993 mg flavanols/day for 8 weeks improved cognition, BP control, and insulin sensitivity in cognitively healthy elderly."

Mastroiacovo D, Kwik-Uribe C, Grassi D, et al.

N: 90 Duration: 8 wk PMID: 25733639
View on PubMed
Psychopharmacology 2015
Cerebral Blood Flow

"A single 494 mg flavanol dose increased regional cerebral blood flow vs. 23 mg control in adults aged 50–65."

Lamport DJ, Pal D, Moutsiana C, et al.

Method: ASL-fMRI PMID: 26047963
View on PubMed
Scientific Reports 2016
Mass-Balance Tracer Study

"82% of ingested (–)-epicatechin is absorbed and reaches systemic circulation. Foundational evidence the active monomer is bioavailable."

Ottaviani JI, Borges G, Momma TY, et al.

Tracer: ¹⁴C PMID: 27363516
View on PubMed

Every external link points to the PubMed listing for that study. Findings shown are summarized for readability; the full method, sample, and confidence intervals are available on PubMed. HarmonyMD does not host abstract content on this domain.

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