A large study was recently conducted to determine if consuming cocoa extract on a daily basis reduced the occurrence or progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The study was conducted between June 2015 through December 2020 and involved over 21,000 participants aged 60 and over. Participants were split into two groups with one group receiving a cocoa extract supplement and a multivitamin and the second group received a placebo.
Researchers determined that while the cocoa extract supplementation for an average period of 3.6 years did not notably affect onset AMD and the progression of AMD, the study did not discount the potential benefit of supplementation during the first 2 years of treatment. Additional research would be justified in order to determine whether the long-term cocoa extract supplementation may help lessen the incidence and progression of AMD.
