These results provide evidence that olive oil might exert beneficial effects on endothelial function as well as markers of inflammation and endothelial function , thus representing a key ingredient contributing to the cardiovascular-protective effects of a Mediterranean diet .
The aim of the present systematic review was to synthesize data from r and omized controlled trials investigating the effects of olive oil on markers of inflammation or endothelial function .
The Mediterranean diet pattern and its main components are associated with lower plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor receptor 60 in patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease.
Adherence to a Mediterranean diet ( MD ) is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease . However , the molecular mechanisms involved are not fully understood . The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 2 MD with those of a low-fat-diet ( LFD ) on circulating inflammatory biomarkers related to atherogenesis . A total of 516 participants included in the Prevention with Mediterranean Diet Study were r and omized into 3 intervention groups [ MD supplemented with virgin olive oil ( MD-VOO ) ; MD supplemented with mixed nuts ( MD-Nuts ) ; and LFD ] . At baseline and after 1 y , participants completed  FFQ  and adherence to MD  question naires , and plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers including intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1 ) , IL-6 , and 2 TNF receptors ( TNFR60 and TNFR80 ) were measured by ELISA . At 1 y , the MD groups had lower plasma concentrations of IL-6 , TNFR60 , and TNFR80 ( P < 0.05 ) , whereas ICAM-1 , TNFR60 , and TNFR80 concentrations increased in the LFD group ( P < 0.002 ) . Due to between-group differences , participants in the 2 MD groups had lower plasma concentrations of ICAM-1 , IL-6 , TNFR60 , and TNFR80 compared to those in the LFD group ( P ≤ 0.028 ) . When participants were categorized in tertiles of 1-y changes in the consumption of selected foods , those in the highest tertile of virgin olive oil ( VOO ) and vegetable consumption had a lower plasma TNFR60 concentration compared with those in tertile 1 ( P < 0.02 ) . Moreover , the only changes in consumption that were associated with 1-y changes in the geometric mean TNFR60 concentrations were those of VOO and vegetables ( P = 0.01 ) . This study suggests that a MD reduces TNFR concentrations in patients at high cardiovascular risk
These results provide evidence that olive oil might exert beneficial effects on endothelial function as well as markers of inflammation and endothelial function , thus representing a key ingredient contributing to the cardiovascular-protective effects of a Mediterranean diet .
The aim of the present systematic review was to synthesize data from r and omized controlled trials investigating the effects of olive oil on markers of inflammation or endothelial function .