Scientific evidence from IOC research projects

The beneficial nutritional properties of olive oil have been documented along the following lines:


>>The effects of olive oil-enriched diets on the plasma lipid profile have been extensively studied. The data available support a beneficial effect, lowering triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins cholesterol while raising the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Together with hypertension, lipid abnormalities constitute a major cardiovascular risk factor.

>>The minor components of olive oil (mainly hydroxytyrosol) have been identified and its bioavailability, metabolism, and biologic effects have been studied by several groups of investigators. The data available support an important antioxidant role for this compound, which has important implications in the prevention of arteriosclerosis and its main complication (myocardial infarction and stroke).

>> More recent data also suggest that hydroxytyrosol is responsible for the antinflammatory and chemopreventive effects of olive oil at the intestinal level, and can induce apoptosis. Thus, a new avenue of great interest is opening up concerning antiproliferative effects of olive oil's minor components and its possible applications in the prevention of some types of neoplasm.

>> Olive oil-enriched diets have shown beneficial effects in the treatment of insulin resistance and obesity. There are many potential implications of these findings, all of enormous impact on public health. As is well known, insulin resistance and obesity are implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, a condition reaching epidemic proportions in industrialised countries.

>> Olive oil-enriched diets have also shown beneficial effects contributing to loweringblood pressure levels. Hypertension is also linked to insulin resistance and is a majorcardiovascular risk factor.

>>The effect of olive oil-enriched diets on ageing has received special attention by some research groups.

More needs to be known concerning the role olive oil plays in a number of diseases that are more and more frequent and significant, such as cancer, age-related disorders, oxidative processes, immunodeficiencies, neurological disorders, fetal malformations, etc...