New Insights on Chocolate Consumption and Health in Postmenopausal Women
Researchers from the University of Tennessee report that regular chocolate consumption among postmenopausal women is linked to a small reduction in the risk of death from any cause. The study’s conclusions appear in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. These findings add to a long-standing discussion about how chocolate might influence health, especially for women in midlife and later years.
Earlier work exploring chocolate’s relationship with heart disease and related conditions has produced mixed results. In this latest analysis, the investigators drew data from thousands of women aged 50 to 79 who were enrolled across 40 clinical centers in the United States. The scope of the study helps clarify potential associations between diet and longevity in a diverse, real-world population.
Initial dietary patterns were assessed using a comprehensive food questionnaire. Over the course of the investigation, researchers documented more than 25,000 deaths, with about 7,000 attributed to cardiovascular disease, another 7,000 to cancer, and roughly 3,000 to dementia. This large event count allowed scientists to examine links between chocolate intake and mortality across several major causes of death.
The analysis showed that higher chocolate intake at the outset was linked to lower levels of diabetes and high cholesterol. Participants who consumed chocolate tended to have a lower overall risk of death from any cause compared with those who did not eat chocolate. The benefit appeared strongest for individuals who included one serving of chocolate in their daily diet.
Among the causes of death, women who regularly ate chocolate were slightly less likely to die from coronary artery disease, lung cancer, or dementia, though the data did not indicate a clear protective effect for Alzheimer’s disease specifically. These associations persisted after accounting for other health factors, suggesting a nuanced relationship between chocolate consumption and long-term outcomes.
It is important to note that women who included chocolate in their routine also tended to have higher body mass indexes and reported other lifestyle patterns that might influence risk. In particular, these participants were more likely to smoke, to consume more calories overall, to eat less fiber-rich foods, and to engage in fewer daily physical activities. They also tended to consume more caffeine through coffee or tea. These characteristics highlight the importance of viewing chocolate as part of a broader dietary and lifestyle context when interpreting its potential health effects. All findings are presented with caution and in the context of observational data, which cannot establish causation but can identify meaningful associations for future exploration and public health consideration [citation].