Cocovia
CAM (flavanol, antioxidant, enhances nitric oxide, improves vascular health)
- Age related cognitive decline
- No studies in vascular depression, but does improve vascular health and mechanism suggests benefit there.
Features
Dosing
750-900 mg qam
INTERACTIONS: None
Management
Extract of dark chocolate. Brought cognitive testing of 65 year olds down to level of 35 year olds and improved hippocampal growth. Improves mood in health adults. However, not very helpful if already eating a lot of flavanols (eg fruits, berries, tea, dark chocolate, colorful vegetables).
Not studied in vascular depression, but since it improves blood flow (through NO), vascular health, and cognition and possibly mood is a contender there.
TOLERABILITY: Well-tolerated, contains small amount of caffeine (about 1 small cup of coffee’s worth). Expensive ($45/mth).
Risks: None.
Medical Benefits: cholesterol, insulin resistance, vascular health, and skin wrinkles.
EMR Text
Memory
CococaVia use based on randomized controlled trials in cognitive function, including age-related cognitive decline (Barrera-Reyes PK et al, Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2020;75(1):1-11).