High Flavanol Cocoa and Increasing Stem Cells in the Blood

Over the past several blogs, we’ve discussed in detail many of the various health benefits high flavanol cocoa can provide to those making it a regular part of their diet. From skin health to heart health to a lowered blood pressure and reduced risk of many types of chronic disease, decades of research now supports the myriad ways high flavanol cocoa can help lead you toward reaching your health goals.

What we haven’t talked about yet, however, is the ongoing research into high flavanol cocoa’s effect on the promotion of stem cell activity. In fact, more recent studies into the effects of flavanols such as epicatechin and catechin are beginning to suggest that, through promotion of the body’s natural regenerative processes, high flavanol cocoa can help with the release of stem cells into the blood as well. With stem cells assisting the body’s recovery and repair processes throughout multiple systems, this may prove yet another potent effect of flavanols and high flavanol cocoa more broadly. Read on for a more in-depth look:

Table of contents

What Are Epicatechin and Catechin Flavanols and Antioxidant Protection Flavanols and Stem Cell Proliferation Flavanols and Stem Cell Exhaustion Sources

What are Epicatechin and Catechin and What Do They Do for the Body?

First off, let’s take a minute to understand what epicatechin and catechin are and how they support the body’s natural regenerative processes. Epicatechin and catechin are found in high flavanol cocoa (among other foods), and like other flavanols have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can help provide all the previously discussed health benefits. In addition to this, however, they are known to help regulate signaling pathways in the body–from the blood-brain barrier to the blood vessels themselves–with this being a main mechanism by which it may promote stem cell activity.

Important to understand, however, is the fact that flavanols like epicatechin and catechin do not directly create blood cells or the stem cells they originate from. Rather, ongoing research suggests they may be beneficial in keeping them healthy and safer from damage while also promoting their ability to carry out their proper function or stay dormant when necessary. While more large-scale studies are needed to confirm several of the proposed effects in humans, it seems likely that high flavanol cocoa could have a whole host of positive effects on stem cells in addition to the ones we already know about.

Key Takeaways:

Epicatechin and catechin are types of cocoa flavanols
Cocoa flavanols are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and help regulate signaling pathways
High flavanol cocoa may help promote stem cells and their function, not create them directly

High Flavanol Cocoa and Antioxidant Protection

We’ve discussed in previous blog posts how high flavanol cocoa’s strong antioxidant properties are among its most important, with this helping cells to be protected from damage, and this is likely to support stem cells in a similar fashion given recent findings. In fact, given that blood cells (among other types) are created from stem cells in the first place, it’s crucial that they be protected from oxidative damage so that the cells they create end up healthy as well.

One 2024 study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences confirmed this ability of epicatechin to protect red blood cells, suggesting that when under stress, high flavanol cocoa can promote cellular health as well. This, in turn, would potentially benefit their stem cells through ensuring the integrity of their DNA and their ability to continue to repair DNA when necessary. Through regular intake of high flavanol cocoa, you may be promoting your body’s cell protection and repair mechanisms even more than we currently understand.

Key Takeaways:

Stem cells, like other types of cells, are susceptible to progressive damage
High flavanol cocoa’s antioxidant properties may help protect stem cells from stress
High flavanol cocoa may help support stem cells’ repair mechanisms

Flavanols and Stem Cell Proliferation

Stem cell proliferation, or the ability of stem cells to multiply and create other types of cells (such as blood cells) is an important part of how they function, and one that cocoa flavanols such as catechin and epicatechin may help promote. Though it hasn’t been widely replicated in humans yet, one Chinese study from 2004 showed that catechin in mice greatly supports the proliferation of the type of stem cell that creates blood cells and their differentiation into various blood cell types themselves.

This might seem abstract, but in fact, stem cell proliferation in the blood is vital for several of the ways our bodies are able to heal themselves and keep themselves healthy. In addition to helping maintain a good amount of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body, the promotion of a strong vascular system also allows it to heal and fight infections much more easily. These stem cell-related mechanisms may just be another way high flavanol cocoa fights to keep the blood healthy when taken regularly.

Key Takeaways:

Multiplying and creating specific cell types is an important job of stem cells
High flavanol cocoa may help support this, specifically in the blood
High flavanol cocoa may help blood cells heal and fight infection

Flavanols and Stem Cell Exhaustion

The ways in which high flavanol cocoa can help to fight certain effects of aging, from blood pressure to cognitive decline, is well-studied and another area where its stem cell-affecting properties may prove relevant. Stem cell exhaustion, or the decline of stem cells and their regenerative abilities, for instance, is an important aspect of aging and one the anti-inflammatory properties of high flavanol cocoa could have an effect on. Specifically, the ability of flavanols like epicatechin and catechin to support cells under inflammatory stress may be able to help mitigate this progressive exhaustion, leading to a reduced risk of several age-related diseases.

In 2018, the American Society of Hematology published a study that states chemicals like epicatechin and catechin can not only support the activity of blood cell-producing stem cells, but help keep them in their resting state when needed as well. If true, this would further support the ability of high flavanol cocoa to help mitigate cell damage and reduce chronic disease risk, though it’s important to note that more large-scale testing is likely needed.

Key Takeaways: