The scientific community disseminates the latest research findings on the beneficial effects of olive oil on Oliveoileu.jp.
Dr Anna Alisi, head of the Complex Characters Molecular Genetics Research Unit at the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome, writes to us to share the results of two papers on the properties of hydroxytyrosol ‘a molecule present in olive extracts and olive oil, which has several properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimicrobial and antiviral.’
The first research concerns ‘Hydroxytyrosol and long covid’ and was conducted by Annalisa Crudele, Antonella Smeriglio, Mariarosaria Ingegneri, Nadia Panera, Marzia Bianchi, Maria Rita Braghini, Anna Pastore, Valeria Tocco, Rita Carsetti, Salvatore Zaffina, Anna Alisi and Domenico Trombetta. Several academic and hospital centers in Italy were involved in the study: Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy; University of Messina.
The second piece of research is titled:‘Combined treatment with hydroxytyrosol and vitamin E improves liver fibrosis related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).’ The study was conducted by: Nadia Panera, Maria Rita Braghini, Annalisa Crudele, Antonella Smeriglio, Marzia Bianchi, Angelo Giuseppe Condorelli, Rebecca Nobili, Libenzio Adrian Conti, Cristiano De Stefanis, Gessica Lioci, Fabio Gurrado, Donatella Comparcola, Antonella Mosca, Maria Rita Sartorelli, Vittorio Scoppola, Gianluca Svegliati-Baroni, Domenico Trombetta, and Anna Alisi. The academic centers and hospitals involved in the study were: Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome; University of Messina; and Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona.
Without going into too much detail, the most enlightening and interesting findings confirm the beneficial properties of extra virgin olive oil.
FINDINGS FROM THE FIRST PIECE OF RESEARCH
The study on the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 investigated ‘the ability of the natural antioxidant hydroxytyrosol (HXT) to neutralize these effects’.
Researchers state that: ‘plant polyphenols are natural compounds that exhibit antiviral activity against various pathogenic viruses. Among these compounds, hydroxytyrosol (HXT), a molecule found in extracts and olive oil, has several properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial and antiviral. Therefore, HXT could represent, as a natural antioxidant, a therapeutic remedy to reduce the potential future harmful effects of long-COVID.’
FINDINGS FROM THE SECOND PIECE OF RESEARCH
The second research focused on ‘Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related liver fibrosis.’ ‘Recently’, the research highlights, ‘polyphenols are emerging as promising natural compounds to counteract the metabolic and cellular alterations that occur in NAFLD, in preclinical and clinical studies. In particular, administering extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)-derived polyphenols has been associated with amelioration of steatosis, inflammation, and liver damage, as documented in in vivo and in vitro models."
‘An interesting phenolic component of EVOO is hydroxytyrosol (HXT), which provides health benefits in animal trials when combined with other natural supplements such as omega-3 and vitamin E (VitE). Despite these findings, the researchers clarify that ‘the beneficial effects of HXT in human NAFLD are still scarce. Indeed, we found that daily intake of combined HXT and VitE supplementation improved hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress and systemic inflammation in pediatric NAFLD. However, whether this compound is also able to attack fibrosis has not yet been defined.’
To read the research:
[Hydroxytyrosol Recovers SARS-CoV-2-PLpro-Dependent Impairment of Interferon Related Genes in Polarized Human Airway, Intestinal and Liver Epithelial Cells (https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/11/8/1466/htm) Combination Treatment with Hydroxytyrosol and Vitamin E Improves NAFLD-Related Fibrosis (https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/18/3791)].
15 November 2022
