Effects of Olive Oil Phenolic Compounds on Inflammation in the Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease

A Functional Virgin Olive Oil Enriched with Olive Oil and Thyme Phenolic Compounds Improves the Expression of Cholesterol Efflux-Related Genes: A Randomized, Crossover, Controlled Trial

The consumption of antioxidant-rich foods such as virgin olive oil (VOO) promotes high-density lipoprotein (HDL) anti-atherogenic capacities. Intake of functional VOOs (enriched with olive/thyme phenolic compounds (PCs)) also improves HDL functions, but the gene expression changes behind these benefits are not fully understood. Our aim was to determine whether these functional VOOs could enhance the expression of cholesterol efflux-related genes. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover, controlled trial, 22 hypercholesterolemic subjects ingested for three weeks 25 mL/day of: (1) a functional VOO enriched with olive oil PCs (500 mg/kg); (2) a functional VOO enriched with olive oil (250 mg/kg) and thyme PCs (250 mg/kg; FVOOT), and; (3) a natural VOO (olive oil PCs: 80 mg/kg, control intervention). We assessed whether these interventions improved the expression of cholesterol efflux-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reactions. The FVOOT intervention upregulated the expression of CYP27A1 (p = 0.041 and p = 0.053, versus baseline and the control intervention, respectively), CAV1 (p = 0.070, versus the control intervention), and LXRβ, RXRα, and PPARβ/δ (p = 0.005, p = 0.005, and p = 0.038, respectively, relative to the baseline). The consumption of a functional VOO enriched with olive oil and thyme PCs enhanced the expression of key cholesterol efflux regulators, such as CYP27A1 and nuclear receptor-related genes.

Olive oil intake and risk of atrial fibrillation in the SUN cohort

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

A Mediterranean-type diet enriched with extra virgin olive oil has been associated with a reduction in the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a population at high cardiovascular risk. However, no study has replicated these findings. In our study, we analyzed the association between olive oil consumption and AF in the SUN project, a cohort with young Spanish adults at low cardiovascular risk.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We included all participants without prevalent AF at baseline (18,118 participants). Incident AF cases were confirmed by a cardiologist following a prespecified protocol. We used multivariable repeated-measurement Cox models adjusted for possible confounders (sex, age, BMI, and several classic cardiovascular risk factors). After a mean follow-up of 10.1 years, 94 AF incident cases were confirmed. Comparing to the lowest category of consumption (<7.9 g/d), the multivariable models showed hazard ratios (IC 95%) of 1.52 (0.93-2.48) for low-to-moderate, 1.44 (0.83-2.47) for moderate-to-high and 1.27 (0.56-2.86) for high olive oil intake. In a subgroup analysis stratified by overweight, an inverse although non-significant association was found only among overweight participants when we compared the highest vs the lowest category of consumption (p for interaction = 0.043).

CONCLUSION

No association between olive oil and AF was found in this low-risk cohort, although the effect of extra-virgin olive oil on AF prevention especially among people with overweight deserves further investigation.

Dietary Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Polyphenols Do Not Attenuate Colon Inflammation in Transgenic HLAB-27 Rats but Exert Hypocholesterolemic Effects through the Modulation of HMGCR and PPAR-α Gene Expression in the Liver

BACKGROUND

Human studies have demonstrated that olive oil phenolic compounds reduce inflammatory markers associated with chronic diseases.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the anti-inflammatory effects of extra-virgin olive oil polyphenols in an experimental model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

HLA-B27 transgenic rats were fed an AIN-76 diet containing 10% corn oil (CO) or extra-virgin olive oil with high (EVOO) or low phenolic content (ROO) for 3 months. Wild-type rats (WT) were fed the CO diet.

RESULTS

CO-fed HLA-B27 animals developed intestinal inflammation characterized by diarrhea, increased myeloperoxidase activity, and mucosal injury. None of these parameters were influenced by EVOO. Gene expression profiling indicated that proinflammatory pathways were upregulated in the colon mucosa of CO-fed HLA-B27 rats compared to WT, and this was further confirmed by RT-PCR for the iNOS, TNFα, and IL1β genes. EVOO significantly reduced TNFα gene expression in the colon mucosa and decreased total cholesterol blood levels compared to CO HLA-B27 rats (89.43 ± 3.66 vs. 111.5 ± 8.10 mg/dL, p < 0.05). This latter effect with EVOO was associated with reduced HMGCR and increased PPAR-α hepatic gene expression, compared to ROO.

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that olive oil polyphenols do not control colon inflammation in HLA-B27 transgenic rats but exert a positive effect on blood lipids by reducing total cholesterol levels. This preliminary result suggests the need to explore the efficacy of EVOO rich in polyphenols as a complementary strategy for managing hypercholesterolemia and to potentially limit statin-associated myotoxicity.

Isolation of an antiviral compound from Tunisian olive twig cultivars

(1) Many studies demonstrated that olive oil and the leaves have several biological activities, but the works on olive twigs remain very limited. In this report, we investigated for anti-coxsackievirus B-3 (CVB-3) and anti-herpes virus type 2 (HSV-2) activities of olive twigs from two Tunisian varieties: Chemlali (CM) and Chétoui (CT). Extraction from the olive twigs was carried out using successively hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol. The obtained extracts were evaluated for their anti-CVB-3 and anti-HSV-2 activities by MTT and plaque reduction assays, respectively. Only hexane extracts exhibited significant activity with a selectivity index of 6.32±0.67 and 5.24±0.82 for CM and CT, respectively. The active compound was isolated through bio-guided assays using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and identified as 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP) by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This work is the first study that demonstrated an antiviral activity of both olive twigs and DTBP.

Vasculoprotective Role of Olive Oil Compounds via Modulation of Oxidative Stress in Atherosclerosis

Existing evidence supports the significant role of oxidative stress in the endothelial injury, and there is a direct link between increased oxidative stress, and the development of endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction precedes the development of atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD). The overproduction of reactive oxygen species facilitates the processes, such as oxidative modification of low-density lipoproteins and phospholipids, reduction in the NOS-derived nitric oxide, and the functional disruption of high-density lipids that are profoundly involved in atherogenesis, inflammation, and thrombus formation in vascular cells. Thus, under oxidative stress conditions, endothelial dysfunction was found to be associated with the following endothelial alterations: reduced nitric oxide bioavailability, increased anticoagulant properties, increased platelet aggregation, increased expression of adhesion molecules, chemokines, and cytokines. In this review, we summarized the evidence indicating that endothelial damage triggered by oxidation can be diminished or reversed by the compounds of olive oil, a readily available antioxidant food source. Olive oil bioactive compounds exhibited a potent capability to attenuate oxidative stress and improve endothelial function through their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-thrombotic properties, therefore reducing the risk and progression of atherosclerosis. Also, their molecular mechanisms of action were explored to establish the potential preventive and/or therapeutic alternatives to the pharmacological remedies available.

Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Foods on Human Health

Recent evidence has suggested that polyphenol-rich foods intake may be associated with decreased risk of chronic diseases. The Special Issue “Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Foods on Human Health” comprised 64 peer-reviewed papers on the most recent evidence regarding the dietary intake of polyphenols and polyphenol-rich foods, as well as their effect toward the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases. Original contributions and literature reviews demonstrated the potential protective effects of polyphenol-rich foods and their extracts toward cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases, mostly through anti-oxidant and chemo-preventive properties.

Cardiovascular Benefits of Phenol-Enriched Virgin Olive Oils: New Insights from the Virgin Olive Oil and HDL Functionality (VOHF) Study

SCOPE

The main findings of the "Virgin Olive Oil and HDL Functionality" (VOHF) study and other related studies on the effect of phenol-enriched virgin olive oil (VOO) supplementation on cardiovascular disease are integrated in the present work.

METHODS AND RESULTS

VOHF assessed whether VOOs, enriched with their own phenolic compounds (FVOO) or with those from thyme (FVOOT), improve quantity and functionality of HDL. In this randomized, double-blind, crossover, and controlled trial, 33 hypercholesterolemic subjects received a control VOO (80 mg kg-1 ), FVOO (500 mg kg-1 ), and FVOOT (500 mg kg-1 ; 1:1) for 3 weeks. Both functional VOOs promoted cardioprotective changes, modulating HDL proteome, increasing fat-soluble antioxidants, improving HDL subclasses distribution, reducing the lipoprotein insulin resistance index, increasing endogenous antioxidant enzymes, protecting DNA from oxidation, ameliorating endothelial function, and increasing fecal microbial metabolic activity. Additional cardioprotective benefits were observed according to phenol source and content in the phenol-enriched VOOs. These insights support the beneficial effects of OO and PC from different sources.

CONCLUSION

Novel therapeutic strategies should increase HDL-cholesterol levels and enhance HDL functionality. The tailoring of phenol-enriched VOOs is an interesting and useful strategy for enhancing the functional quality of HDL, and thus, it can be used as a complementary tool for the management of hypercholesterolemic individuals.

Olive Oil Nutraceuticals in the Prevention and Management of Diabetes: From Molecules to Lifestyle

Lifestyle is the primary prevention of diabetes, especially type-2 diabetes (T2D). Nutritional intake of olive oil (OO), the key Mediterranean diet component has been associated with the prevention and management of many chronic diseases including T2D. Several OO bioactive compounds such as monounsaturated fatty acids, and key biophenols including hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein, have been associated with preventing inflammation and cytokine-induced oxidative damage, glucose lowering, reducing carbohydrate absorption, and increasing insulin sensitivity and related gene expression. However, research into the interaction of OO nutraceuticals with lifestyle components, especially physical activity, is lacking. Promising postprandial effects have been reported when OO or other similar monounsaturated fatty acids were the main dietary fat compared with other diets. Animal studies have shown a potential anabolic effect of oleuropein. Such effects could be further potentiated via exercise, especially strength training, which is an essential exercise prescription for individuals with T2D. There is also an evidence from in vitro, animal, and limited human studies for a dual preventative role of OO biophenols in diabetes and cancer, especially that they share similar risk factors. Putative antioxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms and associated gene expressions resulting from OO biophenols have produced paradoxical results, making suggested inferences from dual prevention T2D and cancer outcomes difficult. Well-designed human interventions and clinical trials are needed to decipher such a potential dual anticancer and antidiabetic effects of OO nutraceuticals. Exercise combined with OO consumption, individually or as part of a healthy diet is likely to induce reciprocal action for T2D prevention outcomes.

Circulating microRNA expression profiling and bioinformatics analysis of dysregulated microRNAs of patients with coronary artery disease

MicroRNs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that modulate the expression of protein-coding genes at the post-transcription level and their dysregulated expression has been implicated in cardiovascular diseases. Circulating miRNAs have been widely recommended as potential biomarkers for many diseases including coronary artery disease. In this study, the miRNA expression profiles of 6 normal coronary artery (NCA), 12 patients with coronary artery disease including 6 unstable angina (UA) patients and 6 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients were determined by small RNA sequencing. The differential expression of miRNAs was verified via using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We further performed bioinformatics analysis for the differentially expressed miRNAs. The results showed that 60 miRNAs were up-regulated and 26 miRNAs were down-regulated in the UA group and 49 miRNAs were up-regulated and 62 miRNAs were down-regulated in the UA group when compared with the NCA group. Among them, both of UA group and STEMI group shared 38 dysregulated miRNAs (28 up-regulated and 10 down-regulated) versus NCA group. ROC curves analysis showed that miR-142-3p and miR-17-5p might server as potential biomarkers for the detection and diagnosis of UA and STEMI. Bioinformatics functional predictions showed that the differential expressed miRNAs were closely related with the pathological process of coronary artery disease. We comprehensively analyzed profile expression of circulating miRNAs of patients with coronary artery disease. Our study suggested that miR-142-3p and miR-17-5p might be potential targets for follow-up research in evaluating biomarkers of coronary artery disease.

Strong inverse associations of Mediterranean diet, physical activity and their combination with cardiovascular disease: The Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) cohort

Background Inverse associations of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and physical activity with cardiovascular disease have been previously reported. We investigated the individual and combined contributions of both to this inverse association in a Mediterranean cohort. Design We used data from 19,536 participants from a prospective cohort of Spanish university graduates, the 'Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra' (SUN) cohort, followed up between December 1999 and December 2016. Methods Adherence to the MedDiet was obtained from a 136-item validated food-frequency questionnaire and categorized in tertiles using four previously reported dietary scores. A validated questionnaire assessed the physical activity levels according to volume, intensity and frequency. Results Participants were followed up during a median time of 10.4 years. Compared with the lowest category of adherence to the MedDiet (≤3 in the Mediterranean Diet Score), higher adherence (6-9 points) was strongly inversely associated with cardiovascular disease (multivariable adjusted hazard ratio = 0.33; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20-0.55). Also, engaging in an active lifestyle (6-8 points in an eight-item score) compared with low activity (<2 points) was associated with a reduced risk of incident cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio = 0.43; 95% CI 0.20-0.90). Greater adherence to the MedDiet and engaging in high levels of active lifestyle showed a 75% relatively reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio = 0.25; 95% CI 0.13-0.48). Conclusions The combined effect of adherence to the MedDiet and adopting an active lifestyle showed a synergistic inverse association with cardiovascular disease risk.

Epigenetics, Nutrition, Disease and Drug Development

Epigenetic mechanisms comprising of DNA methylation, histone modifications and gene silencing by RNA interference have been strongly linked to the development and progression of various diseases. These findings have triggered research on epigenetic functions and signal pathways as targets for novel drug discovery. Dietary intake has also presented significant influence on human health and disease development and nutritional modifications have proven important in prevention, but also the treatment of disease. Moreover, a strong link between nutrition and epigenetic changes has been established. Therefore, in attempts to develop novel safer and more efficacious drugs, both nutritional requirements and epigenetic mechanisms need to be addressed.