Cardio metabolic and immunological impacts of extra virgin olive oil consumption in overweight and obese older adults: a randomized controlled trial

Authors: ROZATI, MITRA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; BARNETT, JUNAIDAH - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; WU, DAYONG - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; HANDELMAN, GARRY - University Of Massachusetts; SALTZMAN, EDWARD - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; WILSON, THOMAS - University Of Massachusetts; LI, LIJUN - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; WANG, JUNPENG - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; MARCOS, ASCENSION - Spanish National Research Council; ORDOVAS, JOSE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; LEE, YU-CHI - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; MEYDANI, MOHSEN - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; MEYDANI, SIMIN - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/21/2015
Publication Date: 8/17/2015
Citation: Rozati, M., Barnett, J., Wu, D., Handelman, G., Saltzman, E., Wilson, T., Li, L., Wang, J., Marcos, A., Ordovas, J.M., Lee, Y., Meydani, M., Meydani, S.N. 2015. Cardio metabolic and immunological impacts of extra virgin olive oil consumption in overweight and obese older adults: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Nutrition. 12:28. doi: 10.1186/s12986-015-0022-5.

Interpretive Summary: Aging is associated with dysregulation of immune and inflammatory responses, which contributes to increase morbidity and mortality in elderly. Also, obesity is one of the predisposing factors for inflammation and developing diseases. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of replacing oils used in a typical American diet (corn, soybean oil and butter) with extra virgin olive oil for 3 months on immune and inflammatory responses and cardio metabolic risk factors (concerning both heart disease and metabolic disorders such as diabetes) in overweight and obese older adults. Our results indicate that replacing the oils consumed in typical American diet with extra virgin olive oil reduces systolic blood pressure, increases HDL-cholesterol concentration (good lipoprotein) and boosts the immune system. The immune system function declines while the risk of high blood pressure and blood lipid abnormalities increases in older adults, particularly in those who are overweight and obese. Thus, our results suggest that overweight and obese older adults might benefit from substituting the oils used in their typical American diet with extra virgin olive oil by reducing their blood pressure, increasing their good lipoprotein and improving their immune response.

Technical Abstract: Background: Both aging and obesity are related to dysregulated immune function which may be responsible for increased risk of infection and also chronic non-infectious diseases. Dietary lipids have been shown to impact immune and inflammatory responses and cardio-metabolic risk factors. No information on the impact of olive oil on immune responses of overweight and obese older adults is available. Methods: This was a randomized, single-blinded and placebo-controlled trial in 41 overweight or obese participants (aged greater than or equal to 65) who consumed a typical American diet. Participants in the control (CON, n equals 21) group were provided with a mixture of corn, soybean oil and butter, and those in the olive oil (OO, n equals 20) group, with extra virgin olive oil, to replace substitutable oils in their diet. At baseline and 3 months, we measured blood pressure, biochemical and immunological parameters using fasting blood, and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin response. Results: Compared to the CON group, the OO group showed decreased systolic blood pressure (P is less than 0.05), a strong trend toward increased plasma HDL-C concentrations (P equals 0.06), and increased anti-CD3/anti-CD28-stimulated T cell proliferation (P is less than 0.05). No differences were found in T cell phenotype, cytokine production, and DTH response between the two groups. Conclusions: Our results indicate that substitution of oils used in a typical American diet with extra virgin olive oil in overweight and obese older adults may have cardio metabolic and immunological health benefits. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01903304.