This week on the Olive Health Information System website

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

Article 1

The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), which is based on olive oil, vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, and nuts, with limited consumption of red meat and processed foods, is well known for its cardiovascular and metabolic benefits, among others.

Understanding how the Mediterranean lifestyle influences longevity across socioeconomic groups is essential for developing equitable public health strategies. To address this question, a prospective study evaluated the association between adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle and all-cause mortality across different socioeconomic groups in the Dutch Lifelines cohort. The study included 105,812 adults who were followed for a median of 13.25 years. The findings revealed a dose–response association, with participants in the highest MEDLIFE adherence quartile showing a 30% lower risk of all-cause mortality than those in the lowest quartile. Importantly, this association was observed across educational and income groups, although income modified the association more strongly than education. These findings highlight the potential of a comprehensive Mediterranean lifestyle—including dietary habits, physical activity, adequate sleep, and social behaviours—to contribute to better population health across socioeconomic groups.

In addition to its associations with mortality and socioeconomic disparities, the MedDiet has increasingly been investigated as a potential strategy for preventing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and improving long-term health outcomes. In this context, George et al. conducted a longitudinal analysis of 119,536 adults from the UK Biobank, examining associations between adherence to the MedDiet, MASLD, hospitalisation, and mortality. Diet quality was assessed using the Modified Mediterranean Diet Score (M-MedDietScore), and participants were followed for a median of 9.7 years. The findings showed that each five-unit increase in the diet score was associated with 19% lower odds of MASLD, with similar results observed in a subgroup assessed using liver imaging. Higher adherence was also associated with a lower risk of hospitalisation for liver-related, cardiovascular, diabetic, respiratory, and renal conditions, as well as lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Among participants with MASLD, greater adherence was associated with a 6% lower risk of all-cause mortality after full adjustment. These findings suggest that adherence to the MedDiet may be associated with a lower risk of MASLD and better long-term health outcomes in non-Mediterranean populations.

Article 2

This week’s newsletter brings exciting scientific news about extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and the Mediterranean diet. Recent studies continue to shed light on why EVOO may offer benefits that extend beyond its role as a cooking ingredient.

Recent prospective epidemiological research suggests that not all healthy dietary patterns may offer the same level of protection. A prospective analysis in the SUN cohort, following 17,855 middle-aged adults over a median follow-up of 14.3 years, found that adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA 2025–2030) was not associated with a statistically significant reduction in overall mortality (HR = 0.87), whereas adherence to traditional Mediterranean dietary patterns centred on virgin olive oil was associated with a 32% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 61% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality. Consistent with these population-level findings, a prospective UK Biobank study involving 124,777 participants followed for 12 years found that higher dietary quality and more favourable fatty acid profiles were associated with a lower risk of heart failure.

The biological mechanisms underlying these potential benefits may be related to the functional matrix of virgin olive oil. A randomized clinical trial found that long-term extra virgin olive oil consumption was associated with changes in plasma antioxidant capacity and markers of cellular oxidative stress. Together, these findings add to the growing evidence that the bioactive compounds in EVOO may contribute to the health benefits associated with the Mediterranean dietary pattern, particularly in relation to cardiovascular health and longevity.