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Effect of olive oil phenolic compounds on the expression of blood pressure-related genes in healthy individuals

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate whether the ingestion of olive oil having different phenolic contents influences the expression of blood pressure-related genes, involved in the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, in healthy humans.

Methods

A randomized, double-blind, crossover human trial with 18 healthy subjects, who ingested 25 mL/day of olive oils (1) high (366 mg/kg, HPC) and (2) low (2.7 mg/kg, LPC) in phenolic compounds for 3 weeks, preceded by 2-week washout periods. Determination of selected blood pressure-related gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) by qPCR, blood pressure and systemic biomarkers.

Results

HPC decreased systolic blood pressure compared to pre-intervention values and to LPC, and maintained diastolic blood pressure values compared to LPC. HPC decreased ACE and NR1H2 gene expressions compared with pre-intervention values, and IL8RA gene expression compared with LPC.

Conclusions

The introduction to the diet of an extra-virgin olive oil rich in phenolic compounds modulates the expression of some of the genes related to the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system. These changes could underlie the decrease in systolic blood pressure observed.

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Abbreviations

ACE:

Angiotensin-converting enzyme

CVD:

Cardiovascular diseases

HPC:

Extra-virgin olive oil high in phenolic compounds

LPC:

Olive oil low in phenolic compounds

OO:

Olive oil

PBMNC:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells

PC:

Phenolic compounds

RAAS:

Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the EU Commission (QLK1-CT-2001-00287), Instituto de Salud Carlos III FEDER (RD12-0042, CB06/03/0028, CB06/02/0029, CA11/00215, CM08/00054), Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (AGL2012-40144-C03-01, AGL2012-40144-C03-02, AGL2012-40144-C03-03, FPI:BES-2010-040766) and Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (2009 SGR 1195, 2014 SGR 240). S.M.-P. was supported by a postdoctoral contract of the ISCIII (Sara Borrell, CD10/00224). M.F. was supported by a joint contract of the ISCIII and Health Department of the Catalan Government (Generalitat de Catalunya) (CP 06/00100). CIBEROBN is an initiative of Institute of Health Carlos III of Spain which is supported by FEDER funds (CB06/03).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Risk and Nutrition Research Group, REGICOR Study Group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

    Sandra Martín-Peláez, Olga Castañer, Valentini Konstantinidou, Daniel Muñoz-Aguayo, Gemma Blanchart, Maria Isabel Covas & Montse Fitó

  2. Spanish Biomedical Research Networking Centre (CIBER), Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

    Sandra Martín-Peláez, Olga Castañer, Daniel Muñoz-Aguayo, Gemma Blanchart, Rafael de la Torre, Guillermo T Sáez, Maria Isabel Covas & Montse Fitó

  3. Cardiovascular and Genetic Epidemiology Research Group, REGICOR Study Group, IMIM, Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

    Isaac Subirana & Sonia Gaixas

  4. Spanish Biomedical Research Networking Centre (CIBER), Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBEResp), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

    Isaac Subirana

  5. Human Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosciences Research Group, IMIM, Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

    Rafael de la Torre & Magí Farré

  6. Universitat Pompeu Fabra (CEXS-UPF), Barcelona, Spain

    Rafael de la Torre

  7. Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Magí Farré

  8. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, University of Valencia, Avinguda Blasco Ibañez 15, 46010, Valencia, Spain

    Guillermo T Sáez

  9. Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio Campus, P.O.Box 1627, 70211, Joensuu, Finland

    Kristina Nyyssönen

  10. German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIFE), Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558, Nuthetal, Germany

    Hans Joachim Zunft

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  1. Sandra Martín-Peláez
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  2. Olga Castañer
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Correspondence to Montse Fitó.

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Martín-Peláez, S., Castañer, O., Konstantinidou, V. et al. Effect of olive oil phenolic compounds on the expression of blood pressure-related genes in healthy individuals. Eur J Nutr 56, 663–670 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-1110-z

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