This week on the Olive Health Information System website

The newsletter of the University of Navarra and the IOC dedicated to health

The evidence supporting the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) continues to expand, particularly within the context of the Mediterranean diet. This edition highlights three recent studies that examine different aspects of EVOO’s impact on health, ranging from molecular mechanisms to clinical outcomes in humans.

A recently published review explores the potential synergy between EVOO and intermittent fasting. The authors report that the bioactive compounds present in EVOO may enhance the effects of fasting on metabolic and cognitive health. Notable improvements include increased insulin sensitivity, reduced oxidative damage, and neuroprotective effects, suggesting a key role for this combination within the Mediterranean dietary pattern in the prevention of chronic diseases.

A second study, a systematic review of clinical trials, has emphasized the role of EVOO in cardiovascular prevention. The review concluded that incorporating EVOO as a central component of the diet resulted in improvements in cardiometabolic biomarkers and a reduction in cardiovascular events. The beneficial properties of EVOO are attributed to its high polyphenol content —particularly hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein—which have been recognized by the European Food Safety Authority for their antioxidant properties.

A third study, a meta-analysis compared the effects of a Mediterranean diet supplemented with EVOO to those of a low-fat diet. The findings showed that the Mediterranean diet significantly improved markers of inflammation and endothelial function, except for E-selectin, where the reduction was modest and not statistically significant. These results reinforce EVOO’s role not only as a source of healthy fats but also as a modulator of inflammation and vascular health.

Together, these findings further support the recommendation to incorporate EVOO into healthy dietary patterns, not only for its nutritional benefits but also for its therapeutic potential in the prevention and management of chronic diseases.

Other articles mentioned this week in the OHIS newsletter:

OLIVE FRUIT

Incorporating olive (Olea europaea L) fruit extracts in a tris-based extender improves buffalo semen cryotolerance by reducing oxidative stress. 

Oxidative Stability of Virgin Avocado Oil Enriched with Avocado Leaves and Olive-Fruit-Processing By-Products (Leaves, Pomace) via Ultrasound-Assisted Maceration.

OLIVE OIL

Effect of the Mediterranean Diet Supplemented With Olive Oil Versus the Low-Fat Diet on Serum Inflammatory and Endothelial Indexes Among Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Clinical Controlled Trials.

Exploring the Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil on Cardiovascular Health Enhancement and Disease Prevention: A Systematic Review.

From Soil to Brain: Olive Oil Attributes, Consumer Choices, Intermittent Fasting, and Their Impact on Health.

OBESITY & DIABETES

Adherence to Mediterranean Diet Among Prediabetic Patients in East Jerusalem.

Mediterranean Diet Patterns Are Positively Associated with Maximal Fat Oxidation and VO2max in Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Leptin.

WOMEN HEALTH & MATERNAL DIET

Understanding health literacy and digital healthy diet literacy in rural women in Türkiye: a cross-sectional study on social media use and Mediterranean diet adherence.

Association of Food-Specific Glycemic Load and Distinct Dietary Components with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Within a Mediterranean Dietary Pattern: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Mediterranean Diet Outcomes Across the Mother-Milk-Infant Triad: A Narrative Review.

Diet and Risk for Incident Diverticulitis in Women: A Prospective Cohort Study.

INFLAMMATION

Mediterranean diet adherence and incident acute pancreatitis: a prospective cohort study.

Nutrition and brain health: Implications of Mediterranean diet elements for psychiatric disorders.

MENTAL HEALTH & COGNITIVE FUNCTION

Mediterranean and standard American diet consumption in psychosis and non-psychosis affective disorders groups: Symptoms and cognition.

Associations between Diet and Cognitive Function in Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

MEDITERRANEAN DIET

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the chrono-med diet score (CMDS) for adult participants.

Food biodiversity and mortality in older Mediterranean adults with high cardiovascular risk.

Combination of a traditional Mediterranean Diet with ultra-processed food consumption in relation to all-cause and cause-specific mortality: Prospective findings from the Moli-sani Study.

Mediterranean diet: Why a new pyramid? An updated representation of the traditional Mediterranean diet by the Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU).

The relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet, quality of life, anthropometric measurements, and some biochemical parameters in patients with coronary artery disease.