Home Ingredients CocoaGanic® (Organic Cocoa Flavanols)
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CocoaGanic® (Organic Cocoa Flavanols)

Theobroma cacao
Evidence Level
Preliminary
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

CocoaGanic® is listed as an organic cocoa (Theobroma cacao) extract concentrated for flavanols. No supplier page, specification or study for CocoaGanic could be found, so its flavanol content is unknown and the research on this page is on cocoa in general. A Cochrane review of 35 short trials in 1,804 mainly healthy adults found that flavanol-rich cocoa lowered blood pressure by about 2 mmHg, on moderate-quality evidence; those trials used 30 to 1,218 mg flavanols a day. A pooled analysis of 33 cocoa and dark chocolate trials found lower levels of malondialdehyde, a marker of fat oxidation, but no significant change in most other oxidative stress and inflammation markers. Cocoa products also contain some caffeine and theobromine.

Studied Dose No dose has been tested for CocoaGanic, and no flavanol content for it could be found. Cochrane review trials of cocoa in general used 30 to 1,218 mg flavanols a day (average about 670 mg).
Active Compound Cocoa flavanols (epicatechin and procyanidins); no standardization figure for CocoaGanic could be found.

Benefits

Cardiovascular support

A Cochrane review pooled 35 randomized trials (1,804 participants) and found that cocoa flavanol products lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by about 1.76 mmHg each. The authors rate this as moderate-quality evidence for a small, roughly 2 mmHg effect in mainly healthy adults in the short term. The trials tested cocoa products in general, not CocoaGanic.

Supported by Trial 1

Polyphenol activity in laboratory tests

Cocoa polyphenols neutralize reactive molecules in laboratory tests, but test-tube activity does not show what happens in the body. No human study has tested CocoaGanic itself.

Supported by Trial 1

Oxidative stress markers in trials of cocoa in general

These trials tested cocoa in general, not CocoaGanic. A pooled analysis of 33 controlled trials in 1,379 adults found that cocoa or dark chocolate lowered malondialdehyde, a marker of fat oxidation, but had no significant effect on most other oxidative stress and inflammation markers. In a 4-week double-blind trial in 50 overweight dieting adults, cocoa extract with 645 mg polyphenols daily lowered oxidized LDL more than control meals.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Flavanol nitric-oxide support

Cocoa flavanols are thought to increase nitric-oxide signaling in blood vessels, which is the usual proposed explanation for the small blood pressure change seen in cocoa trials. The Cochrane review did not measure nitric oxide, but a pooled analysis of cocoa and dark chocolate trials found higher nitric oxide levels.

2

Antioxidant action

Cocoa polyphenols scavenge free radicals in laboratory tests. In people, trials of cocoa in general found lower levels of some markers of fat oxidation, but no study cited here tested CocoaGanic itself.

Clinical trials

1
Cocoa and Blood Pressure: Cochrane Review of Cocoa in General (not CocoaGanic)
PubMed

Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis of 35 randomized trials (40 comparisons) on the effect of cocoa products on blood pressure. CocoaGanic was not one of the products tested. (Ried et al. 2017, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews)

1,804 adults, mainly healthy, pooled from 35 randomized trials; flavanol doses ranged from 30 to 1,218 mg per day (average about 670 mg), and the trials were short.

Cocoa flavanols produced a small but statistically significant reduction in blood pressure: about 1.76 mmHg systolic and 1.76 mmHg diastolic. The authors rate this as moderate-quality evidence for a roughly 2 mmHg effect in mainly healthy adults in the short term. Stomach complaints and nausea were reported by about 1% of participants on cocoa and 0.4% on control.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

In cocoa trials, stomach complaints and nausea were reported by about 1% of people taking cocoa products and 0.4% of those on control products.
Contains some caffeine and theobromine; can affect sleep if taken late.
Keep away from pets, as theobromine is toxic to dogs and cats.

Important Drug interactions

Stimulant medications: possible additive effects; use caution.
Blood pressure medication: possible mild additive effect.
Tell your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.

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Frequently asked questions about CocoaGanic® (Organic Cocoa Flavanols)

What is CocoaGanic?

CocoaGanic® is listed as an organic cocoa (Theobroma cacao) extract concentrated for flavanols. No supplier page, specification or study for CocoaGanic could be found, so its flavanol content is unknown and the research on this page is on cocoa in general.

What is CocoaGanic used for?

CocoaGanic is researched primarily for Cardiovascular and Antioxidant. A Cochrane review pooled 35 randomized trials (1,804 participants) and found that cocoa flavanol products lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by about 1.76 mmHg each.

What is the recommended dosage of CocoaGanic?

No dose has been tested for CocoaGanic, and no flavanol content for it could be found. Cochrane review trials of cocoa in general used 30 to 1,218 mg flavanols a day (average about 670 mg). Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is CocoaGanic safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for CocoaGanic include: In cocoa trials, stomach complaints and nausea were reported by about 1% of people taking cocoa products and 0.4% of those on control products. Contains some caffeine and theobromine; can affect sleep if taken late. It may also interact with some medications. CocoaGanic is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does CocoaGanic interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Stimulant medications: possible additive effects; use caution. Blood pressure medication: possible mild additive effect. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for CocoaGanic?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for CocoaGanic as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 1 study summary and 3 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(3 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Ried K, Fakler P, Stocks NP. Effect of cocoa on blood pressure. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;4(4):CD008893. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008893.pub3.PubMedUsed to support: Cochrane review of cocoa products in general, not of CocoaGanic, finding a small short-term blood pressure reduction of about 2 mmHg across 35 trials in 1,804 adults. Stomach complaints and nausea were reported by about 1% of people on cocoa and 0.4% on control.
  2. Behzadi M, Bideshki MV, Ahmadi-Khorram M, Zarezadeh M, Hatami A. Effect of dark chocolate/ cocoa consumption on oxidative stress and inflammation in adults: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. 2024;84:103061. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2024.103061.PubMedUsed to support: Pooled analysis of 33 controlled trials (1,379 adults) of cocoa or dark chocolate in general, not CocoaGanic. Cocoa lowered malondialdehyde, a marker of fat oxidation (SMD -0.69, 95% CI -1.17 to -0.2), and raised nitric oxide, with no significant effect on the other oxidative stress and inflammation outcomes.
  3. Ibero-Baraibar I, Abete I, Navas-Carretero S, Massis-Zaid A, Martinez JA, Zulet MA. Oxidised LDL levels decreases after the consumption of ready-to-eat meals supplemented with cocoa extract within a hypocaloric diet. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2014;24(4):416-22. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2013.09.017.PubMedUsed to support: Generic cocoa extract, not CocoaGanic. In a 4-week randomized, double-blind trial in 50 overweight or obese middle-aged adults on a 15% energy-restricted diet, ready-to-eat meals with 1.4 g cocoa extract (645.3 mg polyphenols) lowered oxidized LDL more than control meals (p=0.030), and myeloperoxidase fell only in the cocoa group.