[SCAN] Olive oil health benefits – new evidences from animal models and human interventions

Scan Seminar

Title: Olive oil health benefits – new evidences from animal models and human interventions

Speaker: Sandra Silva

From: Nutraceuticals and Delivery Lab, ITQB

Abstract:

Olive oil (OO) consumption is associated with cardiovascular disease prevention because of both its oleic acid and phenolic contents. The capacity of OO phenolics to protect against low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation is the basis for a health claim accepted by the European Food Safety Authority.
Clinical proteomics has been providing specific disease biomarkers, based on urinary peptides. In our study we evaluated the impact of supplementation with OO, either low or high in phenolics, on urinary proteomic biomarkers of coronary artery disease (CAD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and diabetes(1). Self-reported healthy participants (n = 69) were randomly allocated to supplementation with a daily 20-mL dose of OO either low or high in phenolics (18 compared with 286 mg caffeic acid equivalents per kg, respectively) for 6 weeks. Urinary proteomic biomarkers were measured at baseline and 3 and 6 weeks. CAD scoring showed that consumption of both OOs had a significant beneficial impact on this value at both mid and end-points compared to baseline (p<0.005). OOs with high and low phenolic and similar olive oil contents improved proteomic CAD biomarkers equally, with OO component fatty acids as the most likely contributors to the effect observed. No significant changes were seen in CKD or diabetes biomarkers.
In order to explore novel properties of hydroxytyrosol, one of the main phenolic compounds of OO, a chronic rheumatoid arthritis animal model with rats was used, to evaluate its anti-inflammatory effects when present in a supplemented refined OO⁽²⁾. The preliminary results show hydroxytyrosol preventive effects in rheumatoid arthritis evolution, using 5 mg/kg/day gavage dose, and add potential health benefits to OO consumption.
Phenolic compounds have an impact on OO health benefits. However, OO cardioprotection can only be explained by a combined action of OO major and minor components.

References

1. Silva S, Bronze MR, Figueira ME, Siwy J, Mischak H, Combet E, et al. Impact of a 6-wk olive oil supplementation in healthy adults on urinary proteomic biomarkers of coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes (types 1 and 2): a randomized, parallel, controlled, double-blind study. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2015;101(1):44-54.
2. Silva S, Sepodes B, Rocha J, Direito R, Fernandes A, Brites D, et al. Protective effects of hydroxytyrosol-supplemented refined olive oil in animal models of acute inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry. 2014.