title: Cardioprotective Effects of the Polyphenol Hydroxytyrosol from Olive Oil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Mediterranean diet includes olive oil as its primary source of fat. This diet is frequently associated to longevity and a lower incidence of chronic diseases due to its biological activities and health effects. Apart from oleic acid, olive oil contains many bioactive components including polyphenols that have been reported to exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Polyphenols may almost in part be responsible for the protective effects against cardiovascular diseases associated with olive oil.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review and discuss the available literature on hydroxytyrosol effects as a cardioprotective agent. Moreover, we also discuss the chemistry, nutritional aspects and bioavailability of hydroxytyrosol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hydroxytyrosol is one of the major phenolic compounds in olive oil and has demonstrated strong radical-scavenging properties. Several studies have been performed in order to look further into the effects of the polyphenol hydroxytyrosol in relation to cardiovascular events and illnesses in animal trials and in vitro. However, no clinical trials have focused on the specific action of hydroxytyrosol and cardiovascular diseases, although some are being undertaken to look at olive oil or olive leaf extract properties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hydroxytyrosol from olive oil exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet aggregation and ati-atherogenic activities in in vitro and animal models. However, its possible therapeutic use in humans requires additional clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Laboratory, Research Unit, Son Llàtzer Hospital, IUNICS, Ctra. Manacor km 4, E-07198, Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands. Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tejada
authors.affiliation: Group of Interdisciplinary Ecology (EI), Biology Department, University of the Balearic Islands, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca. Spain.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinya
authors.affiliation: Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress (NUCOX), University of Balearic Islands, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands and CIBEROBN (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition), E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands. Spain.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Mar Bibiloni
authors.affiliation: Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress (NUCOX), University of Balearic Islands, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands and CIBEROBN (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition), E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands. Spain.
authors.forename: Josep A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tur
authors.affiliation: Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress (NUCOX), University of Balearic Islands, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands and CIBEROBN (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition), E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands. Spain.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.affiliation: Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress (NUCOX), University of Balearic Islands, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands and CIBEROBN (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition), E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands. Spain.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sureda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D000069463:Olive Oil / Q000737:chemistry*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000069463:Olive Oil; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; C005975:3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol
keywords: Olea europaea; antioxidant; atherosclerosis; cardiovascular disease; olive oil; polyphenols