Effect of olive oil phenolic compounds on the expression of blood pressure-related genes in healthy individuals.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether the ingestion of olive oil having different phenolic contents influences the expression of blood pressure-related genes, involved in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, in healthy humans. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, crossover human trial with 18 healthy subjects, who ingested 25 mL/day of olive oils (1) high (366 mg/kg, HPC) and (2) low (2.7 mg/kg, LPC) in phenolic compounds for 3 weeks, preceded by 2-week washout periods. Determination of selected blood pressure-related gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) by qPCR, blood pressure and systemic biomarkers. RESULTS: HPC decreased systolic blood pressure compared to pre-intervention values and to LPC, and maintained diastolic blood pressure values compared to LPC. HPC decreased ACE and NR1H2 gene expressions compared with pre-intervention values, and IL8RA gene expression compared with LPC. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction to the diet of an extra-virgin olive oil rich in phenolic compounds modulates the expression of some of the genes related to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. These changes could underlie the decrease in systolic blood pressure observed.

Olive Oil Polyphenols Decrease LDL Concentrations and LDL Atherogenicity in Men in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Olive oil polyphenols have shown protective effects on cardiovascular risk factors. Their consumption decreased oxidative stress biomarkers and improved some features of the lipid profile. However, their effects on LDL concentrations in plasma and LDL atherogenicity have not yet been elucidated. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess whether the consumption of olive oil polyphenols could decrease LDL concentrations [measured as apolipoprotein B-100 (apo B-100) concentrations and the total number of LDL particles] and atherogenicity (the number of small LDL particles and LDL oxidizability) in humans. METHODS: The study was a randomized, cross-over controlled trial in 25 healthy European men, aged 20-59 y, in the context of the EUROLIVE (Effect of Olive Oil Consumption on Oxidative Damage in European Populations) study. Volunteers ingested 25 mL/d raw low-polyphenol-content olive oil (LPCOO; 366 mg/kg) or high-polyphenol-content olive oil (HPCOO; 2.7 mg/kg) for 3 wk. Interventions were preceded by 2-wk washout periods. Effects of olive oil polyphenols on plasma LDL concentrations and atherogenicity were determined in the sample of 25 men. Effects on lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene expression were assessed in another sample of 18 men from the EUROLIVE study. RESULTS: Plasma apo B-100 concentrations and the number of total and small LDL particles decreased (mean ± SD: by 5.94% ± 16.6%, 11.9% ± 12.0%, and 15.3% ± 35.1%, respectively) from baseline after the HPCOO intervention. These changes differed significantly from those after the LPCOO intervention, which resulted in significant increases of 6.39% ± 16.6%, 4.73% ± 22.0%, and 13.6% ± 36.4% from baseline (P < 0.03). LDL oxidation lag time increased by 5.0% ± 10.3% from baseline after the HPCOO intervention, which was significantly different only relative to preintervention values (P = 0.038). LPL gene expression tended to increase by 26% from baseline after the HPCOO intervention (P = 0.08) and did not change after the LPCOO intervention. CONCLUSION: The consumption of olive oil polyphenols decreased plasma LDL concentrations and LDL atherogenicity in healthy young men. This trial was registered at www.controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN09220811.

Olive oil polyphenols enhance high-density lipoprotein function in humans: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Olive oil polyphenols have shown beneficial properties against cardiovascular risk factors. Their consumption has been associated with higher cholesterol content in high-density lipoproteins (HDL). However, data on polyphenol effects on HDL quality are scarce. We, therefore, assessed whether polyphenol-rich olive oil consumption could enhance the HDL main function, its cholesterol efflux capacity, and some of its quality-related properties, such HDL polyphenol content, size, and composition. APPROACH AND RESULTS: A randomized, crossover, controlled trial with 47 healthy European male volunteers was performed. Participants ingested 25 mL/d of polyphenol-poor (2.7 mg/kg) or polyphenol-rich (366 mg/kg) raw olive oil in 3-week intervention periods, preceded by 2-week washout periods. HDL cholesterol efflux capacity significantly improved after polyphenol-rich intervention versus the polyphenol-poor one (+3.05% and -2.34%, respectively; P=0.042). Incorporation of olive oil polyphenol biological metabolites to HDL, as well as large HDL (HDL2) levels, was higher after the polyphenol-rich olive oil intervention, compared with the polyphenol-poor one. Small HDL (HDL3) levels decreased, the HDL core became triglyceride-poor, and HDL fluidity increased after the polyphenol-rich intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Olive oil polyphenols promote the main HDL antiatherogenic function, its cholesterol efflux capacity. These polyphenols increased HDL size, promoted a greater HDL stability reflected as a triglyceride-poor core, and enhanced the HDL oxidative status, through an increase in the olive oil polyphenol metabolites content in the lipoprotein. Our results provide for the first time a first-level evidence of an enhancement in HDL function by polyphenol-rich olive oil.

Changes in LDL fatty acid composition as a response to olive oil treatment are inversely related to lipid oxidative damage: The EUROLIVE study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to assess the changes in the fatty acid composition of low density lipoproteins (LDL) after sustained consumption of olive oil at real-life doses (25 mL/day) and their relationship with lipid oxidative damage. METHODS: A multi-center randomized, cross-over, clinical trial with 3 similar types of olive oils, but with differences in the phenolic content, was conducted on 200 healthy European subjects. Intervention periods were of 3 weeks separated by 2-week washout periods. The LDL fatty acid content was measured in samples drawn at baseline and after the last intervention period. RESULTS: After olive oil ingestion oleic acid concentration in LDL increased (1.9%; p < 0.001) and those of linoleic (1.1%; p < 0.002) and arachidonic acid (0.5%; p < 0.001) decreased. Monounsaturated/polyunsaturated fatty acid and oleic/linoleic acid ratios in LDL increased after olive oil consumption. An inverse relationship between the oleic/linoleic acid ratio and biomarkers of oxidative stress was observed. One unit increase in the oleic/linoleic acid ratio was associated with a decrease of 4.2 microg/L in plasma isoprostanes. CONCLUSION: Consumption of olive oil at real-life doses improved the fatty acid profile in LDL, the changes being associated with a reduction of the oxidative damage to lipids.

Effect of olive oils on biomarkers of oxidative DNA stress in Northern and Southern Europeans.

High consumption of olive oil in the Mediterranean diet has been suggested to protect DNA against oxidative damage and to reduce cancer incidence. We investigated the impact of the phenolic compounds in olive oil, and the oil proper, on DNA and RNA oxidation in North, Central, and South European populations. In a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled crossover intervention trial, the effect of olive oil phenolic content on urinary oxidation products of guanine (8-oxo-guanine, 8-oxo-guanosine and 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine) was investigated. Twenty-five milliliters of three olive oils with low, medium, and high phenolic content were administered to healthy males (n=182) daily for 3 wk. At study baseline the urinary excretion of 8-oxo-guanosine (RNA oxidation) and 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine (DNA oxidation) was higher in the Northern regions of Europe compared with Central and Southern European regions (P=0.035). Urinary excretion of the 8 hydroxylated forms of guanine, guanosine, deoxyguanosine and their nonoxidized forms were not different when comparing olive oils with low, medium, and high phenolic content given for 2 wk. Testing the effect of oil from urinary 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine changes from baseline to post-treatment showed a reduction of DNA oxidation by 13% (P=0.008). These findings support the idea that ingestion of olive oil is beneficial and can reduce the rate of oxidation of DNA. This effect is not due to the phenolic content in the olive oil. The higher DNA and RNA oxidation in Northern European regions compared with that in Central and Southern regions supports the contention that olive oil consumption may explain some of the North-South differences in cancer incidences in Europe.

Ultra heat treatment destroys cholesterol-lowering effect of soy protein.

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study was performed to investigate the dose-dependent response of serum cholesterol after consuming an ultra-heat-treated milk containing a soy protein preparation. Eighty hypercholesterolemic subjects were assigned to one of four study groups receiving 12.5 or 25 g soy protein (active treatment) or casein (placebo) daily over a period of 4 weeks. The trial substances were provided as ready-made, ultra-heated milk preparations. Before and after the treatment, serum concentrations of total, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were determined. Unexpectedly, at the end of the study, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were significantly increased compared with baseline in all study groups. The magnitude of this increase (17-19%) was similar in all active and placebo study groups. Soy protein supplements previously shown to be effective in reducing serum cholesterol had in this study no such lipid-lowering effect after ultra heat treatment.

The effect of polyphenols in olive oil on heart disease risk factors: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Virgin olive oils are richer in phenolic content than refined olive oil. Small, randomized, crossover, controlled trials on the antioxidant effect of phenolic compounds from real-life daily doses of olive oil in humans have yielded conflicting results. Little information is available on the effect of the phenolic compounds of olive oil on plasma lipid levels. No international study with a large sample size has been done. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the phenolic content of olive oil further benefits plasma lipid levels and lipid oxidative damage compared with monounsaturated acid content. DESIGN: Randomized, crossover, controlled trial. SETTING: 6 research centers from 5 European countries. PARTICIPANTS: 200 healthy male volunteers. MEASUREMENTS: Glucose levels, plasma lipid levels, oxidative damage to lipid levels, and endogenous and exogenous antioxidants at baseline and before and after each intervention. INTERVENTION: In a crossover study, participants were randomly assigned to 3 sequences of daily administration of 25 mL of 3 olive oils. Olive oils had low (2.7 mg/kg of olive oil), medium (164 mg/kg), or high (366 mg/kg) phenolic content but were otherwise similar. Intervention periods were 3 weeks preceded by 2-week washout periods. RESULTS: A linear increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels was observed for low-, medium-, and high-polyphenol olive oil: mean change, 0.025 mmol/L (95% CI, 0.003 to 0.05 mmol/L), 0.032 mmol/L (CI, 0.005 to 0.05 mmol/L), and 0.045 mmol/L (CI, 0.02 to 0.06 mmol/L), respectively. Total cholesterol-HDL cholesterol ratio decreased linearly with the phenolic content of the olive oil. Triglyceride levels decreased by an average of 0.05 mmol/L for all olive oils. Oxidative stress markers decreased linearly with increasing phenolic content. Mean changes for oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels were 1.21 U/L (CI, -0.8 to 3.6 U/L), -1.48 U/L (-3.6 to 0.6 U/L), and -3.21 U/L (-5.1 to -0.8 U/L) for the low-, medium-, and high-polyphenol olive oil, respectively. LIMITATIONS: The olive oil may have interacted with other dietary components, participants' dietary intake was self-reported, and the intervention periods were short. CONCLUSIONS: Olive oil is more than a monounsaturated fat. Its phenolic content can also provide benefits for plasma lipid levels and oxidative damage. International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial number: ISRCTN09220811.

Soy isoflavones increase preprandial peptide YY (PYY), but have no effect on ghrelin and body weight in healthy postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Soy isoflavones show structural and functional similarities to estradiol. Available data indicate that estradiol and estradiol-like components may interact with gut "satiety hormones" such as peptide YY (PYY) and ghrelin, and thus influence body weight. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial with 34 healthy postmenopausal women (59 +/- 6 years, BMI: 24.7 +/- 2.8 kg/m2), isoflavone-enriched cereal bars (50 mg isoflavones/day; genistein to daidzein ratio 2:1) or non-isoflavone-enriched control bars were consumed for 8 weeks (wash-out period: 8-weeks). Seventeen of the subjects were classified as equol producers. Plasma concentrations of ghrelin and PYY, as well as energy intake and body weight were measured at baseline and after four and eight weeks of each intervention arm. RESULTS: Body weight increased in both treatment periods (isoflavone: 0.40 +/- 0.94 kg, P < 0.001; placebo: 0.66 +/- 0.87 kg, P = 0.018), with no significant difference between treatments. No significant differences in energy intake were observed (P = 0.634). PYY significantly increased during isoflavone treatment (51 +/- 2 pmol/L vs. 55 +/- 2 pmol/L), but not during placebo (52 +/- 3 pmol/L vs. 50 +/- 2 pmol/L), (P = 0.010 for treatment differences, independent of equol production). Baseline plasma ghrelin was significantly lower in equol producers (110 +/- 16 pmol/L) than in equol non-producers (162 +/- 17 pmol/L; P = 0.025). CONCLUSION: Soy isoflavone supplementation for eight weeks did not significantly reduce energy intake or body weight, even though plasma PYY increased during isoflavone treatment. Ghrelin remained unaffected by isoflavone treatment. A larger and more rigorous appetite experiment might detect smaller differences in energy intake after isoflavone consumption. However, the results of the present study do not indicate that increased PYY has a major role in the regulation of body weight, at least in healthy postmenopausal women.

Evaluation of body fat changes during weight loss by using improved anthropometric predictive equations.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Skinfold-based equations are widely used to evaluate body fat (BF), but over-/underestimation is often reported. We evaluate the capacity of improved skinfold-based equations to estimate BF changes during weight reduction and compare them against well-established equations. METHODS: Overweight adults (n = 44) participated in a 4-month weight reduction intervention. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and anthropometric measurements were taken at baseline and after intervention. The BF% was calculated using García, Peterson, and Durnin and Womersley (DW) equations. RESULTS: Baseline and postintervention BF% measured by DXA correlated highest with BF% predicted according to García (r = 0.934 and r = 0.948, respectively), followed by Peterson (r = 0.941 and r = 0.932, respectively) and DW (r = 0.557 and r = 0.402, respectively); only a slight systematic error in overestimating the BF% was observed in estimates according to García (r = 0.147 and r = 0.104, respectively; p < 0.001), while increasing errors occurred using the Peterson (r = 0.624 and r = 0.712, respectively; p < 0.001) and DW (r = 0.767 and r = 0.769, respectively; p < 0.001) equations. Moderate correlations between BF changes (kg) measured by DXA and predicted by DW (r = 0.7211), Peterson (r = 0.697), and García (r = 0.645) were observed. CONCLUSION: Improved skinfold equations cannot accurately measure changes in BF after weight reduction.

Differences in fecal microbiota in different European study populations in relation to age, gender, and country: a cross-sectional study.

A cross-sectional study on intestinal microbiota composition was performed on 230 healthy subjects at four European locations in France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden. The study participants were assigned to two age groups: 20 to 50 years (mean age, 35 years; n = 85) and >60 years (mean age, 75 years; n = 145). A set of 14 group- and species-specific 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes was applied to the analysis of fecal samples by fluorescence in situ hybridization coupled with flow cytometry. Marked country-age interactions were observed for the German and Italian study groups. These interactions were inverse for the predominant bacterial groups Eubacterium rectale-Clostridium coccoides and Bacteroides-Prevotella. Differences between European populations were observed for the Bifidobacterium group only. Proportions of bifidobacteria were two- to threefold higher in the Italian study population than in any other study group, and this effect was independent of age. Higher proportions of enterobacteria were found in all elderly volunteers independent of the location. Gender effects were observed for the Bacteroides-Prevotella group, with higher levels in males than in females. In summary, age-related differences in the microbiota makeup were detected but differed between the study populations from the four countries, each showing a characteristic colonization pattern.

Improved prediction of body fat by measuring skinfold thickness, circumferences, and bone breadths.

OBJECTIVE: To develop improved predictive regression equations for body fat content derived from common anthropometric measurements. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: 117 healthy German subjects, 46 men and 71 women, 26 to 67 years of age, from two different studies were assigned to a validation and a cross-validation group. Common anthropometric measurements and body composition by DXA were obtained. Equations using anthropometric measurements predicting body fat mass (BFM) with DXA as a reference method were developed using regression models. RESULTS: The final best predictive sex-specific equations combining skinfold thicknesses (SF), circumferences, and bone breadth measurements were as follows: BFM(New) (kg) for men = -40.750 + {(0.397 x waist circumference) + [6.568 x (log triceps SF + log subscapular SF + log abdominal SF)]} and BFM(New) (kg) for women = -75.231 + {(0.512 x hip circumference) + [8.889 x (log chin SF + log triceps SF + log subscapular SF)] + (1.905 x knee breadth)}. The estimates of BFM from both validation and cross-validation had an excellent correlation, showed excellent correspondence to the DXA estimates, and showed a negligible tendency to underestimate percent body fat in subjects with higher BFM compared with equations using a two-compartment (Durnin and Womersley) or a four-compartment (Peterson) model as the reference method. DISCUSSION: Combining skinfold thicknesses with circumference and/or bone breadth measures provide a more precise prediction of percent body fat in comparison with established SF equations. Our equations are recommended for use in clinical or epidemiological settings in populations with similar ethnic background.

A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial compares the cholesterol-lowering effects of two different soy protein preparations in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

BACKGROUND: Soy protein is effective in lowering plasma cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. It has not been conclusively answered, whether and to what extent other soy constituents may also contribute to this effect. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change in blood lipid levels after application of two soy-based supplements containing soy protein either without (SuproSoy) or with (Abacor) soy fiber and phospholipids in a randomized placebo-controlled triplearmed study. METHODS: 121 hypercholesterolemic adults (66 females, 55 males) were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three treatments. Over 8 weeks they received daily either 25 g soy protein (as a component of the supplements Abacor or SuproSoy) or 25 g milk protein (as a component of placebo). Serum lipids were measured at baseline and after 4, 6 and 8 weeks. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of supplementation total cholesterol levels were reduced by 8.0 +/- 9.6% (Abacor) and 3.4 +/- 8.3% (SuproSoy); LDL cholesterol levels by 9.7 +/- 11.7% (Abacor) and 5.4 +/- 11.6% (SuproSoy); and Apolipoprotein B levels by 6.9 +/- 14.6% (Abacor) and 4.0 +/- 12.4 % (SuproSoy). Serum levels of HDL cholesterol and triglycerides remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: A preparation combining isolated soy protein with soy fibers and phospholipids showed twice the lipid-lowering effect of a preparation containing isolated soy protein alone. Therefore, such soy-based supplements can be useful in reducing the cardiovascular risk.

[The CARMEN trial: increased intake of carbohydrates--simple or complex--and unchanged blood lipids in overweight subjects]. / CARMEN-studiet. Øget indtagelse af kulhydrater--simple eller komplekse--og nedsat fedtindtagelse giver moderat vaegttab og uaendrede blodlipider hos overvaegtige.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose was to investigate the long-term effect of ad libitum low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets with mainly simple or complex carbohydrates on body weight and blood lipids. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A six-months controlled randomised multicentre trial with the participation of five European centres. A total of 398 moderately obese subjects (BMI: 30.4 +/- 2.7 kg/m2, mean +/- SD) were randomised to four groups: Control diet group with normal macronutrient intake, a low-fat/high simple carbohydrate group, a low-fat/high complex carbohydrate group and a seasonal control group. RESULTS: After six months we found a drop in body weight of 1.7 kg (p < 0.05) in the simple and of 2.6 kg (p < 0.001) in the complex carbohydrate group compared with the control diet group. Fat mass decreased by 1.9 kg (p < 0.05) and 2.4 kg (p < 0.001) in the simple and complex carbohydrate group, respectively, compared with the control diet group. There were no significant changes or group differences in fasting blood lipids, glucose, insulin, or leptin. DISCUSSION: The results show that it is favourable to replace dietary fat by carbohydrates (simple or complex) in relation to body weight regulation. No detrimental effects were seen on blood lipids in contrast to previous contentions. Our results underline the importance of a low-fat/high-carbohydrate diet in the management of obesity and the ensuing health problems.