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Review
. 2022 Dec 15;23(24):16002.
doi: 10.3390/ijms232416002.

Olive Oil in the Mediterranean Diet and Its Biochemical and Molecular Effects on Cardiovascular Health through an Analysis of Genetics and Epigenetics

Renata Riolo  1 , Riccardo De Rosa  1 , Irene Simonetta  1 , Antonino Tuttolomondo  1
Affiliations
Review

Olive Oil in the Mediterranean Diet and Its Biochemical and Molecular Effects on Cardiovascular Health through an Analysis of Genetics and Epigenetics

Renata Riolo et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Human nutrition is a relatively new science based on biochemistry and the effects of food constituents. Ancient medicine considered many foods as remedies for physical performance or the treatment of diseases and, since ancient times, especially Greek, Asian and pre-Christian cultures similarly thought that they had beneficial effects on health, while others believed some foods were capable of causing illness. Hippocrates described the food as a form of medicine and stated that a balanced diet could help individuals stay healthy. Understanding molecular nutrition, the interaction between nutrients and DNA, and obtaining specific biomarkers could help formulate a diet in which food is not only a food but also a drug. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the role of the Mediterranean diet and olive oil on cardiovascular risk and to identify their influence from the genetic and epigenetic point of view to understand their possible protective effects.

Keywords: Mediterranean diet; cardiovascular effects; genetics and epigenetics; olive oil.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proposed collective mechanisms to underpin the protective effect of foods against cardiovascular disease. No single ingredient or agent can account for specific food groups’ benefits. It takes a calorically sensitive and balanced variety to get the maximum help for the patients.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Image that represents the food pyramid typical of the Mediterranean diet. TMD is full of fruits and vegetables with an abundant consumption of olive oil. The pyramid describes, to varying degrees, which foods should be taken daily and which require monthly or infrequent intake.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Some typical Mediterranean Italian food.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Extra virgin olive oil composition.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The image represents the molecular pathway of related amino acid activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and the beneficial action of sheep/goat whey protein administration that imitates the fast. Mtor regulates different cellular processes, such as cell growth and proliferation, autophagy, and protein synthesis, and exists in two forms, mTORC1 and mTORC2.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Description of the anti-inflammatory effects of fatty acids.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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