Mediterrranean Diet and Health Biological Importance of Olive Oil

Abstract

Olive oil, the main fatty component of the Mediterranean diet, is characterized by consisting of monounsaturated fatty acids as well as by its elevated content in antioxidant agents. This oil exhibits numerous biological functions which are beneficial for the state of health. A diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acids provides an adequate fluidity to the biological membranes, diminishing the hazard of lipid peroxidation which affects polyunsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, the antioxidants present in olive oil are able to scavenge free radicals and afford an adequate protection against peroxidation. Regarding the heart, olive oil decreases the plasmatic levels of LDL-cholesterol and increases those of HDL-cholesterol, hence diminishing the risk of suffering from heart complaints. In this context, it has been suggested that increased consumption of monounsaturated fatty acids in place of polyunsaturated fatty acids will render circulating lipoproteins less sensitive to peroxidation and thereby diminish the development of atherosclerosis. Olive oil has also been proven to contribute to a better control of the hypertriglyceridemia accompanying diabetes and may reduce the risk of breast cancer and colorectum. On the other hand, several investigations have suggested that olive oil can be beneficial in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. In this sense, some reports have indicated that olive oil modifies inflammatory cytokines production. As for the digestive system, olive oil enhances gallbladder emptying consequently reducing cholelithiasis risk, decreases the pancreatic exocrine secretion and gastric secretory function in response to food. Finally, it has been demonstrated that a diet rich in olive oil is associated with a high percentage of gastric ulcer healing and affords a higher resistance against non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs-induced gastric ulcerogenesis.

Impact of shared epitope genotype and ethnicity on erosive disease: A meta‐analysis of 3,240 rheumatoid arthritis patients

“…This clinical heterogeneity makes investigation of genetic and environmental differences between eastern Mediterranean and other ethnic groups more interesting. For example, some have attributed nutritional variations as explanations for differences in the susceptibility to and severity of RA among eastern Mediterranean patients compared with patients of other ethnic groups (70)(71)(72). In addition to nutrition, other environmental factors, such as exposure to cigarette smoke (73,74), may also influence manifestations of RA and lead to variations in severity between populations.…”

Phenolic profile of virgin olive oil from advanced breeding selections

“…Moreover, these compounds may provide a defense mechanism that delays aging and prevents carcinogenesis, atherosclerosis, obesity, liver disorders and inflammations (Tripoli et al, 2005;Bendini et al, 2007;Servili et al, 2009). Also, beneficial effects on breast and colon cancer (Owen et al, 2000), on diabetes accompanied by hypertriacylglycerolaemia and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (Alarcón de la Lastra et al, 2001) have been attributed to VOO. Finally, phenolic compounds are highly correlated to VOO organoleptic characteristics, mainly bitterness and pungency (Andrewes et al, 2003;Beltrán et al, 2007).…”

Protective effect of Acer mono Max. sap on water immersion restraint stress-induced gastric ulceration

“…The WIRE model has previously been used to observe various aspects affecting the formation of and recovery from gastric mucosal lesions, including sulphydryls, prostaglandins, growth factors and polyamines (2). WIRE stress-induced gastric lesions have also been used to study the roles of cell death and gastric acid secretion in ulcerogenesis (3).…”