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Virgin olive oil rich in phenolic compounds modulates the expression of atherosclerosis-related genes in vascular endothelium

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Abstract

Purpose

Previous studies have shown the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds of virgin olive oil (VOO). However, the effect of bioavailable phenolic compounds on the vascular endothelium is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the consumption of virgin olive oil rich in phenolic compounds on the vascular endothelium.

Methods

We treated HUVEC with human serum obtained in fasting state and after the intake of a breakfast prepared with VOO with a high or low content of phenolic compounds.

Results

Treatment of HUVEC with serum obtained 2 h after the intake of the high-phenol VOO-based breakfast decreased p65 and MCP-1 gene expression (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively) and increased MT-CYB, SDHA and SOD1 gene expression (p = 0.004, p = 0.012 and p = 0.001, respectively), as compared with the treatment of HUVEC with the serum obtained 2 h after the intake of the low-phenol VOO-based breakfast. The treatment with serum obtained 4 h after the intake of the high-phenol VOO-based breakfast decreased MCP-1 and CAT gene expression (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively) and increased MT-CYB gene expression (p < 0.001), as compared to the treatment with serum obtained 4 h after the intake of the low-phenol VOO-based breakfast.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the consumption of virgin olive oil rich in phenolic compounds may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis development by decreasing inflammation and improving the antioxidant profile in the vascular endothelium.

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Acknowledgments

The CIBEROBN is an initiative of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. This study supported in part by research grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (AGL 2006-01979, and AGL 2009-12270 to J. L.-M., SAF07-62005 to F. P.-J., PI10/02412 to F. P.-J.); Consejeria de Economia, Innovacion y Ciencia, Proyectos de Investigacion de Excelencia, Junta de Andalucia (P06-CTS-01425 to J. L.-M., CTS5015 and AGR922 to F. P.-J.); Consejeria de Salud, Junta de Andalucia (06/128, 07/43, and PI0193/09 to J. L.-M, 06/129 to F. P.-J., 06/127 to C. M.-H., PI-0252/09 to J. D.-L., and PI-0058/10 to P. P.-M.); Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). We would also like to thank Canoliva (Antonio Cano e Hijos SA, Luque, Córdoba), who generously donated the olive oil.

Conflict of interest

None of the authors has any conflict of interests that could affect the performance of this work or the interpretation of the data.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Lipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, IMIBIC/Reina Sofia University Hospital/University of Cordoba, Av. Menendez Pidal, s/n., 14004, Cordoba, Spain

      Eliana R. Meza-Miranda, Oriol A. Rangel-Zúñiga, Carmen Marín, Pablo Pérez-Martínez, Javier Delgado-Lista, Carmen Haro, Patricia Peña-Orihuela, Ana I. Jiménez-Morales, José López-Miranda, Francisco Pérez-Jiménez & Antonio Camargo

    2. CIBER Fisiopatologia de la Obesidad y Nutricion (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

      Eliana R. Meza-Miranda, Oriol A. Rangel-Zúñiga, Carmen Marín, Pablo Pérez-Martínez, Javier Delgado-Lista, Carmen Haro, Patricia Peña-Orihuela, Ana I. Jiménez-Morales, María M. Malagón, Francisco J. Tinahones, José López-Miranda, Francisco Pérez-Jiménez & Antonio Camargo

    3. Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, IMIBIC/Reina Sofia University Hospital/University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain

      María M. Malagón

    4. Endocrinology and Nutrition Service, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Malaga, Spain

      Francisco J. Tinahones

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    1. Eliana R. Meza-Miranda
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    2. Oriol A. Rangel-Zúñiga
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    8. Ana I. Jiménez-Morales
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    Correspondence to Antonio Camargo.

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    Francisco Pérez-Jiménez and Antonio Camargo have contributed equally to this article.

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    Meza-Miranda, E.R., Rangel-Zúñiga, O.A., Marín, C. et al. Virgin olive oil rich in phenolic compounds modulates the expression of atherosclerosis-related genes in vascular endothelium. Eur J Nutr 55, 519–527 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-0868-3

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