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This week on the Olive Health Information System website
The newsletter of the University of Navarra and the IOC dedicated to health
Article 1
Recent studies have examined the role of overall dietary patterns in cardiovascular prevention, as well as the potential impact of food quality within these patterns, including dietary fats.
In a new prospective analysis from the PREDIMED trial, Castro-Barquero and colleagues examined adherence to four healthy dietary pattern scores — including the Mediterranean diet score, DASH, MIND, and the Planetary Health Diet Index —in relation to stroke incidence. Quintile analyses revealed that higher adherence to the Mediterranean and MIND dietary patterns showed the most significant inverse associations with total and ischemic stroke. In contrast, associations with the DASH and Planetary Health Diet were not statistically significant.
Beyond overall dietary patterns, emerging research suggests that the characteristics of specific foods within these patterns may also be relevant when exploring the biological pathways linking diet to brain and vascular health. One example is the distinction between virgin and refined olive oils. Illustrating this point, a Predimed-Plus study by Ni et al. distinguished between virgin and refined olive oil and examined its relationship with gut microbiota features and two-year cognitive changes in older adults. Their results suggest more favorable cognitive changes and higher microbial alpha diversity with higher virgin olive oil intake. In contrast, higher common olive oil intake showed less favorable associations. Mediation analyses further indicated a potential contribution of the gut microbiota — notably Adlercreutzia —to the relationship between virgin olive oil and cognition.
Taken together, these PREDIMED-based studies suggest that considering overall dietary patterns alongside the characterization of key foods within those patterns—such as distinguishing virgin from refined olive oil—may strengthen interpretation and help guide future research.
Article 2
Recent scientific research continues to provide robust evidence of the important role played by the Mediterranean diet and extra virgin olive oil in preventing chronic diseases throughout life. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health highlights the importance of this dietary pattern from the earliest stages of life. The study confirms that a high level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. These findings suggest that promoting this nutritional model early in life may contribute to reducing cardiometabolic risk and supporting healthier metabolic profiles during childhood and adolescence.
This broad protective effect is further supported by molecular findings, such as those reported in a pioneering experimental study published in Obesity. The study examined the differential impact of the Mediterranean diet and a Western diet on adipose tissue transcriptional profiles. In a long-term randomized preclinical trial, the Mediterranean diet mitigated fat accumulation and metabolic dysfunction while producing distinct gene-expression patterns in adipose tissue. These results provide molecular insight into how dietary patterns influence adipose tissue biology and metabolic regulation, helping to explain the protective metabolic effects associated with the Mediterranean diet.
In this context, extra virgin olive oil emerges as a key pillar of these systemic benefits, with evidence suggesting that its effects may extend to neurological health. A new systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials published in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN suggests that the consumption of extra virgin olive oil may improve global cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Improvements were observed in several standardized cognitive assessments, although the overall certainty of the evidence remains limited due to the small number of available trials. These findings nevertheless reinforce the growing body of research suggesting that the bioactive compounds present in extra virgin olive oil may contribute to maintaining cognitive health.
Together, these findings reinforce the view that the Mediterranean diet —with extra virgin olive oil at its core—is not merely a dietary recommendation, but a biologically grounded intervention supported by strong scientific evidence for preserving both metabolic and brain health.
Other articles mentioned this week in the OHIS newsletter:
Olive fruit and olive oil
Children and youth
Adopting the Mediterranean Diet: Motivational and Socio-Cognitive Processes in Young Adults.
Nutrition and digestive conditions
The role of mediterranean diet and highly processed foods in inflammatory bowel diseases.
Mental health
The role of diet and physical activity in managing anxiety and depression: A scoping review.
Dietary patterns
Women´s health
Others
A critical evaluation of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
