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 Effects of the Mediterranean Diet on Biomarkers of Vascular Wall Inflammation and Plaque Vulnerability in Subjects with High Risk for Cardiovascular Disease. A Randomized Trial
Background Adherence to the Mediterranean diet ( MD ) is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease . However , how the MD exerts its effects is not fully known . Aim To assess the 12-month effects of two enhanced MDs compared to a low-fat diet on inflammatory biomarkers related to atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability in a subcohort of the PREDIMED ( Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea ) study . Methods A total of 164 participants at high risk for cardiovascular disease were r and omized into three diet groups : MD supplemented with 50mL/d of extra virgin olive oil ( MD+EVOO ) or 30 g/d of nuts ( MD+Nuts ) and a low-fat diet . Changes in classical cardiovascular risk factors , inflammatory biomarkers of atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability were measured after 12 months of intervention . Results Compared to participants in the low-fat diet group , those receiving MD+EVOO and MD+Nuts showed a higher decrease in systolic ( 6mmHg ) and diastolic ( 3mmHg ) blood pressure ( P = 0.02 ; both ) , as well as a reduction of 10 % and 8 % in LDL-cholesterol ( P = 0.04 ) , respectively . Patients in the MD+Nuts group showed a significant reduction of 34 % in CD40 expression on monocyte surface compared to low-fat diet patients ( P = 0.03 ) . In addition , inflammatory biomarkers related to plaque instability such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 were reduced by 45 % and 35 % and 95 % and 90 % in the MD+EVOO and MD+Nuts groups , respectively ( P<0.05 ; all ) compared to the low-fat diet group . Likewise , sICAM and P-selectin were also reduced by 50 % and 27 % , respectively in the MD+EVOO group ( P = 0.04 ) and P-selectin by 19 % in MD+Nuts group ( P = 0.04 ) compared to the low-fat diet group . Conclusions Adherence to the MD is associated with an increase in serum markers of atheroma plaque stability which may explain , at least in part , the protective role of MD against ischemic heart disease . Trial Registration www.controlled-trials.com IS RCT
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 .