Epicatechin and Cocoa Flavanols
Each entry’s own grades, side by side. A grade says how strong the evidence is for one outcome — it does not rank one entry over the other.
Compound or practice
Epicatechin
A cocoa flavanol studied for blood flow and a 'myostatin inhibitor' claim that's more marketing than muscle.
Grade C2 graded outcomesrevised Jul 10, 2026
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
Compound or practice
Cocoa Flavanols
The flavanols in cocoa genuinely improve blood-vessel function and modestly lower blood pressure — the sugar is the catch.
Grade B3 graded outcomesrevised Jul 10, 2026
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
Graded in both
Outcomes are matched by name. Two entries can describe the same outcome in different words, so one listed further down may still be graded in the other.
No outcome has the same name in both entries. They may still overlap under different wording — read the two lists below.
Graded only in Epicatechin
- Endothelial function / blood flow Small effectEvidence grade B
- Muscle (myostatin) Trivial effectEvidence grade D
Graded only in Cocoa Flavanols
- Endothelial function Moderate effectEvidence grade B
- Blood pressure Small effectEvidence grade B
- Cognition / brain blood flow Small effectEvidence grade C
Conditions
Only in Epicatechin
None.
Only in Cocoa Flavanols
- Hypertension May improveEvidence grade B
What each entry says about the other
- Epicatechin’s entry · Works together: Epicatechin is the active flavanol in cocoa.
- Epicatechin’s entry · Goes with: Epicatechin is the active flavanol in cocoa.
Both columns are read from the entries as they stand in this library. A comparison is not advice to take either one, and it is no substitute for a clinician who knows the person.