The effects of functional olive oil on hypertension

In 2015 we assessed the effects of functional olive oil enriched with its own phenolic compounds on endothelial function in hypertensive patients and in a randomized controlled trial design.
The additional health-promoting properties of functional virgin olive oil (FVOO) enriched with its own phenolic compounds (OOPC) versus the parental virgin olive oil (VOO) must be tested in appropriate human clinical trials. Our aim was to assess the effects of FVOO on endothelial function in hypertensive patients. Thirteen pre- and stage-1 hypertensive patients received a single dose of 30 mL of FVOO (OOPC=961 mg/kg) or VOO (OOPC=289 mg/kg) in a postprandial randomized, double-blind, crossover trial.

Endothelial function, measured as ischemic reactive hyperemia (IRH) and related biomarkers, were followed for 5h after consumption. Compared with VOO, FVOO increased IRH (P<0.05) and plasma Cmax of hydroxytyrosol sulfate, a metabolite of OOPC 2h postprandial (P=0.05). After FVOO ingestion, oxidized LDL decreased (P=0.010) in an inverse relationship with IRH AUC values (P=0.01). FVOO provided more benefits on endothelial function than a standard natural virgin olive oil in pre-and hypertensive patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION:isrctn.org. Identifier ISRCTN03450153.

The original publication can be found in PUBMEB, NIH National Library of Medicine.