Health Benefits

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HEALTH BENEFITS OF
VIRGIN OLIVE OIL PHENOLIC

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.

THE BIRTHPLACE OF EXTRA
Virgin Olive Oil
The principle source of dietary fat in the Mediterranean diet is VOO

[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]
and VOO contributes significantly to the superior health profile observed in Mediterranean populations

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].

In fact, throughout history, VOO has been recognized as being a potent pharmacological agent by ancient Greek doctors, and Hippocrates mentions approximately 60 health conditions where VOO use can be beneficial beneficial

[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].
A large body of evidence has highlighted the benefits of VOO intake on primary end points for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and total mortality as well as secondary risk factors for chronic inflammatory diseases such as cancer, endothelial function and hypertension

[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.].

High quality extra virgin olive oil
Phenolic Fraction
It is now known that VOO contains approximately 36 phenolic compounds and these compounds play a key role in the health promoting qualities of the oil

[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].
Research investigating VOO phenolics and benefits to human health has focused on inflammation, antioxidant status, antimicrobial activity, as well as other biological markers of non-communicable disease. The principle phenolics of interest this are secoiridoid oleuropein, and its derivative hydroxytyrosol, and the minor phenolic compound oleocanthal.

[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].

A number of studies both in vivo and in vitro demonstrate that VOO phenolic compounds beneficially alter inflammation and have beneficial effects on markers of cancer, atherosclerosis and also genes related to obesity and metabolic syndrome. The modes of action through which olive oil phenolic compounds beneficially influence health parameters detailed in all research experimental may explain the lower incidence of chronic inflammatory diseases amongst populations residing in the Mediterranean region, who consume large volumes of VOO in their daily diets
For more information, please visit the website

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27999296