Olive Oil Benefits

OLIVE OIL BENEFITS
zhion@zhion.com September, 2008

The high intake of olive oil in the Mediterranean diet among populations in Southern Europe is
associated with low incidences of coronary heart disease, inflammatory and autoimmune
diseases. [1,2]

THE HIGH CONTENT OF PHENOLICS IN OLIVE OIL MAKES OLIVE OIL
DIFFERENT

Researchers found that olive oil is a rich source of phenolic compounds. The
phenolic compounds in olive oil can be divided into three groups: simple
phenols (hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol); secoiridoids (oleuropein, the aglycone of
ligstroside, and their respective decarboxylated dialdehyde derivatives); and
the lignans [(+)-1-acetoxypinoresinol and pinoresinol]. Phenolics in these
three groups have potent antioxidant properties. [5]

Olive oil is also a good source of monounsaturated fatty acids, squalene, and
alpha-tocopherol. [6]

ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITIES

Several studies have demonstrated that olive oil phenolics are powerful
antioxidants, both in vitro and in vivo [4]

IMMUNO-MODULATION / ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES

Studies have shown that olive oil modulates immune function, particularly the
inflammatory processes. Its high content of oleic acid combined with its high
content of antioxidants, such as oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, and tyrosol,
contribute to olive oilÂ’s antioxidant effects and thus its anti-inflammatory
activities. [8]

Researchers discovered a chemical called oleocanthal having effects similar
to that of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compound in the commercial
pain-killer. This discovery is important because olive oil is known to have
benefits on a variety of chronic diseases like stroke, heart disease, and
breast and lung cancer. [11]

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Researchers found that polyphenolic compounds [especially hydroxytyrosol
and oleuropein] in olive oil may contribute to the lower incidence of coronary
heart disease in the Mediterranean area. [3,4]

Phenols have been shown in laboratory studies to have antioxidant, anti-
inflammatory and blood clot preventing powers. A recent study has shown a
benefit for phenol-rich olive oils on blood vessel function.

Dr. Francisco Perez Jimenez and his team at Hospital Universitario Reina
Sofia in Cordoba Spain compared the effect of consuming phenol-rich olive oil
or olive oil with most of its phenol content removed in a group of 21
volunteers with high cholesterol. They found that blood vessel response and
function was improved for the first four hours after the high-phenol olive oil
meal. Blood vessels have been shown to function poorly after a high-fat meal.

They concluded that a meal containing high-phenolic virgin olive oil improves
ischemic reactive hyperemia during the postprandial state. And, this
phenomenon might be mediated via reduction in oxidative stress and the
increase of nitric oxide metabolites. [12]

ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITIES

Olive oil has anti-cancer activities because of its high content of antioxidants
(such as hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, secoiridoids and lignans) and compounds
deemed to be anticancer agents (such as squalene and terpenoids). [9]

Northwestern University laboratory found that the oleic acid of olive oil could
sharply cut levels of a gene called Her-2/neu thought to trigger the breast
cancer. Oleic acid might also boost the effectiveness of herceptin. [10] [More
studies are needed to confirm this claim]

BIOAVAILABILITY [ABSORPTION] OF OLIVE OIL PHENOLS

Bioavailability studies in humans show that the absorption of olive oil
phenols is about or larger than 55-66% [7]

Facts about Olive OIl
Greece is the third largest producer of olive oil in the world. Its annual
production is 400,000 tonnes!! About a quarter of its production is exported
and mainly to Italian retailers. Italian retailers package the product under
their own labels.

Once, the products are packaged in Italian-style with a French label, the
sales become brisk!! [13]

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PUBLICATIONS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2008
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE USING ANY SUPPLEMENTS.

REFERENCES
[1] Sanders TA Olive oil and the Mediterranean diet. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2001 May;71
(3):179-84. [2] Alarcon de la Lastra C et al, Mediterranean diet and health: biological
importance of olive oil. Curr Pharm Des. 2001 Jul;7(10):933-50. [3] Visioli F et al, The
effect of minor constituents of olive oil on cardiovascular disease: new findings. Nutr
Rev. 1998 May;56(5 Pt 1):142-7. [4] Visioli F et al Antiatherogenic components of
olive oil. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2001 Jan;3(1):64-7. [5] Owen RW et al, Olive-oil
consumption and health: the possible role of antioxidants. Lancet Oncol. 2000 Oct;1:
107-12. [6] Stark AH et al, Olive oil as a functional food: epidemiology and nutritional
approaches. Nutr Rev. 2002 Jun;60(6):170-6. [7] Vissers MN et al Bioavailability and
antioxidant effects of olive oil phenols in humans: a review. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004 Jun;
58(6):955-65. [8] Wahle KW et al Olive oil and modulation of cell signaling in disease
prevention. Lipids. 2004 Dec;39(12):1223-31. [9] Owen RW Olives and olive oil in
cancer prevention. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2004 Aug;13(4):319-26. [10] Olive oil acid 'cuts
cancer risk' BBC Online Publication 2005/01/10. [11] Beauchamp, G. Nature, Sept. 1,
2005; vol 437: pp 45-46. News release, Monell Chemical Senses Center, University of
Pennsylvania. [12] Phenolic content of virgin olive oil improves ischemic reactive
hyperemia in hypercholesterolemic patients. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005 Nov 15;46(10):
1864-8. Epub 2005 Oct 24 [13] No more ltalian labels on our olive oil, Greece says.
AFP June 11, 2006.

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