Virgin olive oil (VOO) is credited as being one of the many healthful components associated with the Mediterranean diet. VOO is rich in phenolic compounds and the health promoting benefits of these phenolics are now established.
[Bach-Faig, A.;Berry, E.M.; Lairon, D.; Reguant, J.; Trichopoulou, A.; Dernini, S.; Medina, F.X.; Battino, M.; Belahsen, R.; Miranda, G. Mediterranean diet pyramid today. Science and cultural updates. Public Health Nutri. 2011, 14, 2274–2284; Sahyoun, N.R.; Sankavaram, K. Historical origins of the Mediterranean Diet, Regional Dietary Profiles, and the Development of the Dietary Guidelines. In Mediterranean Diet; Springer: Cham, Switzerland, 2016; pp. 43–56]
Tripoli, E.; Giammanco, M.; Tabacchi, G.; Di Majo, D.; Giammanco, S.; La Guardia, M. The phenolic compounds of olive oil: Structure, biological activity and beneficial effects on human health. Nutr. Res. Rev. 2005, 18, 98–112]; Serra-Majem, L.; Trichopoulou, A. Trichopoulou, Updating the Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet: From the Heart to the Earth. In Mediterranean Diet; Springer: Cham, Switzerland, 2016; pp. 3–14].
[Caramia, G.; Gori, A.; Valli, E.; Cerretani, L. Virgin olive oil in preventive medicine: From legend to epigenetics. Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol. 2012, 114, 375– 388].in preventive medicine: From legend to epigenetics. Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol. 2012, 114, 375– 388].
[Covas, M.-I.; Fitó, M.; de la Torre, R. Minor Bioactive Olive Oil Components and Health: Key Data for Their Role in Providing Health Benefits in Humans. In Olive and Olive Oil Bioactive Constituents; Elsevier, Inc.: Philadelphia, PA, USA, 2015; p. 31.].
[Estruch, R.; Ros, E.; Salas-Salvadó, J.; Covas, M.-I.; Corella, D.; Arós, F.; Gómez-Gracia, E.; Ruiz-Gutiérrez, V.; Fiol, M.; Lapetra, J.; et al. Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet. N. Engl. J. Med. 2013, 368, 1279–1290].
[Cicerale, S.; Lucas, L.; Keast, R. Antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phenolic activities in extra virgin olive oil. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 2012, 23, 129–135].
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27999296