Impact of Phenol‐Enriched Virgin Olive Oils on the Postprandial Levels of Circulating microRNAs Related to Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Scope We investigate the postprandial modulation of cardiovascular‐related microRNAs elicited by extra virgin olive oil (EVOOs) containing different levels of their own polyphenols. Methods and results It is randomized, postprandial, parallel, double‐blind study. Twelve healthy participants consumed 30 mL of EVOO containing low (L‐EVOO; 250 mg total phenols kg −1 of oil), medium (M‐EVOO; 500 mg total phenols kg −1 of oil), and high (H‐EVOO; 750 mg total phenols kg −1 of oil) enriched EVOOs. Postprandial plasma microRNAs levels are analyzed by real‐time quantitative PCR. The results show that L‐EVOO intake is associated with decreased let‐7e‐5p and miR‐328a‐3p levels and increased miR‐17‐5p and miR‐20a‐5p, concentrations. M‐EVOO decreases plasma let‐7e‐5p and increases miR‐17‐5p, miR‐20a‐5p, and miR‐192‐5p levels. Finally, H‐EVOO decreases let‐7e‐5p, miR‐10a‐5p, miR‐21‐5p, and miR‐26b‐5p levels. Conclusion During the postprandial state, the levels of let‐7e‐5p decrease with EVOO regardless of polyphenol content suggesting a general response to the fatty acid composition of EVOO or/and the presence of at least 250 mg polyphenol kg −1 olive oil. Moreover, the miR‐17‐92 cluster increases by low and medium polyphenol content suggesting a role in fatty acid metabolism and nutrient sensing. Thus, postprandial modulation of circulating microRNAs levels could be a potential mechanism for the cardiovascular benefits associated with EVOO intake.

Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beer Modulate Plasma and Macrophage microRNAs Differently in a Pilot Intervention in Humans with Cardiovascular Risk

“…We measured plasma and macrophage expression levels of a panel of 53 microRNAs as previously described [ 27 , 29 ]. We used a customised 56-probes OpenArray plate (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA).…”

“…The fold change (FC) in circulating and macrophage microRNAs levels was measured as relative quantification using the 2 −ΔΔCt method, comparing each intervention point with its corresponding basal point, and was Log 2 transformed. Normalisation and relative quantification analyses were described previously [ 27 , 29 ]. Briefly, the NormFinder algorithm [ 32 ] was used to select the best endogenous reference microRNAs in each case (miR-24-3p for plasma and miR-146a-5p and miR-320a-3p for macrophages).…”

“…MicroRNAs significantly modified in plasma and macrophages were selected for further functional analyses. We performed an enrichment analysis as previously described [ 27 , 29 ], using DIANA miRPath v0.3 [ 33 ] to identify KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways and GO (Gene Ontology) biological processes associated with modified microRNAs and miRWalk to search for experimentally validated and predicted targets of these microRNAs using [ 29 ]. We compared eight algorithms (miRanda, TargetScan, miRDB, PITA, MicroT4, miRMap, miRNAMap and miRWalk) using stringent criteria in all of them.…”

“…Overrepresented KEGG pathways are shown in heat maps with the colour representing the log 10 of the p -value or in bar graphs. Venn diagrams were built with the Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Genomics application using default settings ( ) [ 27 , 29 ].…”

Mediterranean Diet and Endothelial Function: A Review of its Effects at Different Vascular Bed Levels

“…Deregulation of miRNAs in response to olive oil and polyphenols was associated with improved lipid metabolism and reduced oxidative stress. Thus, the regulation of miRNAs could constitute a strategy with benefits for endothelial function in response to food intake from the Mediterranean diet [34].…”