EUROLIVE Study Group
EUROLIVE Study Group
Randomized, controlled, crossover trial had six institution, beeig part of five different European countries , participating. The objective was to evaluate whether the phenolic content of olive oil on some cardiac risk factors.
Two hundred healthy male volunteers participated in the study and daily intake was of 25 mL (23 g ca.) of different olive oil differing from phenolic content, respectively: low 2,7 mg/kg , medium 164 mg/kg , high 366 mg/kg. The administration was carried out for three weeks for each treatment phase.
Many blood parameters were analysed: glucose levels, plasma lipid levels, oxidative damage to lipids levels, and endogenous and exogenous antioxidants at baseline and before and after each intervention.
The study results showed that there was “a linear increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) for low-, medium-, and high polyphenol olive oil” and “Total cholesterol-HDL cholesterol ratio decreased linearly with the phenolic content of the olive oil” as cited from authors. Also the oxidized LDL levels were favourable associated with the polyphenol olive oil content.
Conclusions reported were that the olive oil is more than monounsaturated fat thanking to its phenolic content able to “also provide benefits for plasma lipid levels and oxidative damage”.
Bibliography reference: Ann. Intern. Med.2006; 145:333-341