Olive oil polyphenols decrease blood pressure and improve endothelial function in young women with mild hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Olive oil polyphenols have been associated with several cardiovascular health benefits. This study aims to examine the influence of a polyphenol-rich olive oil on blood pressure (BP) and endothelial function in 24 young women with high-normal BP or stage 1 essential hypertension.


METHODS
We conducted a double-blind, randomized, crossover dietary-intervention study. After a run-in period of 4 months (baseline values), two diets were used, one with polyphenol-rich olive oil (∼30 mg/day), the other with polyphenol-free olive oil. Each dietary period lasted 2 months with a 4-week washout between diets. Systolic and diastolic BP, serum or plasma biomarkers of endothelial function, oxidative stress, and inflammation, and ischemia-induced hyperemia in the forearm were measured.


RESULTS
When compared to baseline values, only the polyphenol-rich olive oil diet led to a significant (P < 0.01) decrease of 7.91 mm Hg in systolic and 6.65 mm Hg of diastolic BP. A similar finding was found for serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) (-0.09 ± 0.01 µmol/l, P < 0.01), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) (-28.2 ± 28.5 µg/l, P < 0.01), and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) (-1.9 ± 1.3 mg/l, P < 0.001). The polyphenol-rich olive oil diet also elicited an increase in plasma nitrites/nitrates (+4.7 ± 6.6 µmol/l, P < 0.001) and hyperemic area after ischemia (+345 ± 386 perfusion units (PU)/sec, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that the consumption of a diet containing polyphenol-rich olive oil can decrease BP and improve endothelial function in young women with high-normal BP or stage 1 essential hypertension.
Unidad Clinico Experimental de Riesgo Vascular, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS) SAS, CEIC, Universidad de Sevilla, Hospital Virgen del Rocio, Seville, Spain.
Rafael
R
Moreno-Luna
Rocio
R
Muñoz-Hernandez
Maria L
ML
Miranda
Alzenira F
AF
Costa
Luis
L
Jimenez-Jimenez
Antonio J
AJ
Vallejo-Vaz
Francisco J G
FJ
Muriana
Jose
J
Villar
Pablo
P
Stiefel
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D000069463:Olive Oil; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D059808:Polyphenols