olive oil and cardiovascular health

Conditions: Cardiovascular Disease; Endothelial Function

Summary: the purpose of this study is to conduct a double-blind, randomized controlled trial (rct), to determine if six month supplementation of olive oil can improve the health of the blood vessels and improve long term health of the heart and blood vessels, in patients requiring percutaneous coronary intervention (pci).


Eligibility criteria:
subjects will be included if they have all of the following 1. age ≥ 18 years old 2. have known diagnosis of coronary artery disease 3. demonstrated endothelial dysfunction (reactive hyperemia - endopat score \< 2.0) at time of screening patient exclusion criteria: patients will be excluded if they have one or more of the following: 1. hypertension (at screening): any patient with systolic blood pressure (sbp) ≥ 170 mmhg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 110 mmhg, or hypotension (sbp \< 100 mmhg) 2. uncontrolled diabetes mellitus 3. experienced an acute coronary syndrome within 3 months 4. pci or revascularization for an acute coronary syndrome within 3 months 5. second (ii) or third (iii) degree heart block without a pacemaker and/or concurrent potentially life threatening arrhythmia or other uncontrolled arrhythmia 6. congestive heart failure nyha class iii and iv 7. unstable serum creatinine (\>2.0) 8. any surgical or medical condition which might significantly alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of the olive oil including, but not limited to, any of the following: * history of major gastrointestinal tract surgery such as gastrectomy, gastroenterostomy, or bowel resection * any history of pancreatic injury, pancreatitis or evidence of impaired pancreatic function/injury as indicated by abnormal lipase or amylase * evidence of hepatic disease as determined by a history of hepatic encephalopathy, a history of cirrhosis, esophageal varices, or a history of portocaval shunt 9. any concurrent life threatening condition with a life expectancy less than 2 years 10. history or evidence of drug or alcohol abuse within the last 12 months 11. history of hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or to medications belonging to the same therapeutic class as the study drugs as well as known or suspected contraindications to the study drugs 12. history of noncompliance to medical regimens or unwillingness to comply with the study protocol 13. history of malignancy other than basal cell skin cancer within the past five years 14. any surgical or medical condition, which in the opinion of the investigator, may place the patient at higher risk from his/her participation in the study, or is likely to prevent the patient from complying with the requirements of the study or completing the study 15. use of other investigational drugs at the time of enrollment, or within 30 days or 5 half-lives of enrollment, whichever is longer 16. any condition that in the opinion of the investigator would jeopardize the evaluation of efficacy or safety 17. persons directly involved in the execution of this protocol 18. pregnant or nursing (lactating) women 19. women of child-bearing potential unless postmenopausal for at least one year, surgically sterile or using effective methods of contraception as defined by local health authorities