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The newsletter of the University of Navarra and the IOC dedicated to health
It is widely accepted that extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) plays an important role in the health benefits attributed to the Mediterranean diet, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anticancer properties. However, its antiangiogenic properties (the ability to reduce the growth of new blood vessels) remain relatively unexplored. In this sense, an in vitro study aimed to explore the potential impact of the phenolic fraction found in EVOO on the angiogenesis process of endothelial cells. In subsequent in vitro experiments, the authors found that the phenolic fraction reduced proliferation, migration, invasion, and extracellular matrix degradation, while inducing apoptosis and other cell death mechanisms. These results provide evidence of the antiangiogenic potential of EVOO phenolic compounds, which could have potential therapeutic applications in angiogenesis-related pathologies, such as cancer, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
Regarding the broader benefits of the Mediterranean diet and its impact on chronic disease prevention, a large cohort analysis of individuals with prediabetes within the UK Biobank analyzed the impact of the Mediterranean lifestyle (MEDLIFE score) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) on type 2 diabetes (T2D) and diabetic microvascular complications (DMC), including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic kidney disease. Compared to the lowest quartile, being in the highest quartile of adherence to the MEDLIFE decreased the risk of T2D by 16% and of any DMC by 31%. In contrast, high VAT levels, compared to the lowest quartile, increased the risk of incident T2D and DMC. The authors also explored the combined effect of MEDLIFE and VAT on T2D and DMC risk. High MEDLIFE scores were associated with reduced T2D risk and DMC risk across all VAT categories, except for the highest VAT quartile. These results suggest that both high adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle and low levels of VAT are essential for preventing T2D and its secondary complications.
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