“Theobromine?”Here!a cocoa alkaloid
Hasn’t appeared in a scanned product yet.
As a supplement
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Roll Call does not check drug interactions or assess personal safety.
A naturally occurring compound in the same chemical family as caffeine, found mainly in cacao (and therefore in chocolate and cocoa products). It has a milder, longer-lasting stimulant-like effect than caffeine.
Why it’s used
Taken by some for a gentle lift in alertness or mood, or included in products marketed for mild energy or cardiovascular support, drawing on its natural presence in cocoa.
What the evidence says
Human research on theobromine given as an isolated supplement, apart from chocolate or cocoa as a whole food, is limited. Some small trials have looked at mood, blood pressure, and cholesterol-related measures, with mixed or inconclusive results, and cocoa's better-documented cardiovascular associations are usually attributed to its flavanol content rather than theobromine specifically. There is no NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet on theobromine as a standalone supplement.
Context
Studies that have isolated theobromine's effects, separate from other cocoa compounds, are few, use varied doses, and often examine short-term outcomes like mood or blood pressure rather than any long-term benefit.
Rumors
Theobromine gives sustained energy without the crash or jitters of caffeine.
Does not support — establishedhealth and safety evidence
Measured as an outcome.
- Psychopharmacology of theobromine in healthy volunteers (Peer-reviewed) · Funded by Unilever R and D; additional NIH training/research grants (T32 MH020065, DA02812, T32 DA007255, DA021336) (industry)
- Differential contributions of theobromine and caffeine on mood, psychomotor performance and blood pressure (Peer-reviewed) · Funding not checked
Who’s saying this
- mrsupplement.com.au — we couldn’t open the site to see who runs it
Theobromine improves focus and mental clarity.
Does not support — establishedhealth and safety evidence
Measured as an outcome.
- Psychopharmacology of theobromine in healthy volunteers (Peer-reviewed) · Funded by Unilever R and D; additional NIH training/research grants (T32 MH020065, DA02812, T32 DA007255, DA021336) (industry)
- Differential contributions of theobromine and caffeine on mood, psychomotor performance and blood pressure (Peer-reviewed) · Funding not checked
Who’s saying this
- BulkSupplements.com — a brand: sells nutritional supplement ingredients
How we know who this is
- “Located in Henderson, Nevada, BulkSupplements.com supplies over 500 pure nutritional supplement ingredients to hundreds of thousands of consumers and manufacturers.” (their page)
Theobromine helps you burn fat by boosting metabolism and thermogenesis.
Does not support — suggestivehealth and safety evidence
Measured as a biomarker.
- The Therapeutic Potential of Theobromine in Obesity: A Comprehensive Review (Peer-reviewed) · Funding not checked
Who’s saying this
- mrsupplement.com.au — we couldn’t open the site to see who runs it
Theobromine lowers blood pressure.
Does not support — establishedhealth and safety evidence
Measured as a biomarker.
- Effects on Peripheral and Central Blood Pressure of Cocoa With Natural or High-Dose Theobromine A Randomized, Double-Blind Crossover Trial (Peer-reviewed) · Funding not checked
- Theobromine consumption does not improve fasting and postprandial vascular function in overweight and obese subjects (Peer-reviewed) · Funded by Dutch Technology Foundation STW (part of NWO, partly funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs) (government)
Who’s saying this
- powersupps.com.au — we couldn’t open the site to see who runs it
Theobromine supplements can cause a racing heart (tachycardia).
Supports — suggestivehealth and safety evidence
Measured as a biomarker.
- Psychopharmacology of theobromine in healthy volunteers (Peer-reviewed) · Funded by Unilever R and D; additional NIH training/research grants (T32 MH020065, DA02812, T32 DA007255, DA021336) (industry)
- Theobromine consumption does not improve fasting and postprandial vascular function in overweight and obese subjects (Peer-reviewed) · Funded by Dutch Technology Foundation STW (part of NWO, partly funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs) (government)
Who’s saying this
- powersupps.com.au — we couldn’t open the site to see who runs it