→ Work plan
FLAVIOLA is a European research project carried out by a consortium of eight national partners each with a specific expertise. The workload has been organised in six work-packages (WP) and each institution takes the lead on one or more aspects of the research and shares the results with the others. FLAVIOLA will deploy over a period of three years.

Stacks Image 28
The FLAVIOLA Consortium

The FLAVIOLA Vision

FLAVIOLA’s vision was that through collaborative research into the function and delivery of flavanols, we provided the foundations for the development of innovative and natural food products that have a far-reaching impact on European public health and well being.
“FLAVIOLA was a unique research project. We aimed to develop an optimised flavanol-rich diet without altering the natural flavanol source or enriching dietary flavanol content,” commented Prof. Kelm, Professor of Medicine and Cardiology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf and FLAVIOLA Scientific Director.
Prof. Kelm, FLAVIOLA Scientific Director
Stacks Image 29

Cutting-edge Research


The role of cocoa flavanols in health has been investigated for over 20-years, so what makes FLAVIOLA novel?

The FLAVIOLA project employed a multidisciplinary, translational research approach to address the gaps and challenges that exist in the field of flavanol research as it relates to cardiovascular health and aging. To achieve the project goals outlined below, FLAVIOLA utilized state-of-the-art analytical techniques, rigorous and well-designed clinical studies, and the knowledge and experience of experts from academic, government, and industry partners.

Our Objectives


In order to gain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the function and delivery of flavanols, FLAVIOLA focused on a broad range of complementary aspects.

Research aims of the FLAVIOLA project were to:
  • Investigate the absorption and metabolism of flavanols in humans, including inter- and intra-individual variation
  • Establish the levels of habitual flavanol intake in the EU
  • Assessing the impact of the dietary intake of flavanols on cardiovascular function in healthy adults
  • Develop a cocoa food product prototype containing flavanol for use in the context of cardiovascular health

Expected Impact


In order to gain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the function and delivery of flavanols, FLAVIOLA focused on a broad range of complementary aspects.

Research aims of the FLAVIOLA project were to:
  • Investigate the absorption and metabolism of flavanols in humans, including inter- and intra-individual variation
  • Establish the levels of habitual flavanol intake in the EU
  • Assessing the impact of the dietary intake of flavanols on cardiovascular function in healthy adults
  • Develop a cocoa food product prototype containing flavanol for use in the context of cardiovascular health