Extra Virgin Olive Oil Reduces Inflammation in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Olive oil is a staple of the Mediterranean diet and has long been associated with the reduce risk for heart disease in cultures consuming it.  A new study analyzes detailed gene responses in patients with the metabolic syndrome (overweight, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, low HDL).  They demonstrated that extra virgin olive oil¹ significantly reduces the expression of inflammatory genes, whereas refined olive oil has no benefit.

Extra virgin olive oil is high in phenolic antioxidant compounds and squalene, whereas refined olive oil has little of these beneficial co-factors.  The study participants consumed 2.66 tablespoons of olive oil (about 35 grams of mostly monounsaturated fat) at breakfast, either in the extra virgin form or a refined form.  Extra virgin olive oil has more phenolic compounds in it because it is obtained from the first pressing of the olives.

Obesity which progresses to metabolic syndrome carries a high risk for inflammation-related disease.  This study showed conclusively that extra virgin olive oil turned of multiple inflammatory genes that are activated by this problem, including the core gene signal known as Nf-kappaB.

Food is medicine.