Olive Oil Can Repair Obese Liver

Author: Joe Fowler Time for reading: ~2 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

Scientists have discovered the mechanisms by which olive oil exerts its beneficial properties on the liver.

The health benefits of regular olive oil intake are well known, especially its ability to reduce the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease. However, the biochemical mechanisms of these properties are clarified specifically for the first time in a scientific study by scientists from Chile, published on April 11, 2017.

Research on the health benefits of olive oil has led Dr. Rodrigo Valenzuela's research team to discover perhaps the most beneficial ingredient in vegetable oil. It is called hydroxytyrosol and is a polyphenolic compound with powerful antioxidant properties . It is these properties that are responsible for the protective properties of olive oil on the cardiovascular system.

In the course of the study, the researchers found that hydroxytyrosol also has a completely unknown protective effect on the liver . Their data and analysis are published in the pages of the journal Lipids in Health and Disease .

Dr. Valenzuela and colleagues studied the effect of hydroxytyrosol on individuals on a high-fat diet . They observed the activity of specific enzymes that play a role in the biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids .

This type of acid is good for the human body because it has the ability to lower the levels of low-density lipoprotein , known to the general public as "bad" LDL cholesterol . Its bad reputation is due to its properties to be deposited on the arterial walls, forming plaques and blockages that worsen cardiovascular health. In addition, polyunsaturated fatty acids improve cardiovascular and brain function and are vital for cell growth.

Two of the main newly discovered effects of hydroxytyrosol intake in high-fat individuals were a significant reduction in blood LDL cholesterol levels and a reduction in specific markers indicating the development of insulin resistance (one of the main drivers of diabetes ).

Most significant was the discovery that hydroxytyrosol stimulated the production of liver enzymes , through which the body only produces the beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids. The increased amount and productivity of these enzymes coincided with the observed normalization of the fatty acid balance, mainly in the liver (even in individuals with hepatic steatosis - obesity of the liver), but also significantly in the brain and heart tissues. This has led scientists to conclude that taking hydroxytyrosol can repair the damage to these organs caused by diets that are too high in fat.

It is important to note that the highest concentrations of hydroxytyrosol are found in the healthiest, single cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil . Subsequent cold pressing or factory processing greatly reduces the concentration of the beneficial compound in olive oil, scientists say.

Olive Oil Can Repair Obese Liver

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