Polyphenol rich olive oils improve lipoprotein particle atherogenic ratios and subclasses profile: a randomized, crossover, controlled trial

Abstract

Scope—Lipoprotein particle measures performed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and associated ratios, may be better markers for atherosclerosis risk than conventional lipid measures. The effect of two functional olive oils, one enriched with its polyphenols (FVOO, 500 ppm), and the other (FVOOT) with them (250 ppm) and those of thyme (250 ppm), versus an standard virgin olive oil (VOO), on lipoprotein particle atherogenic ratios and subclasses profiles was assessed. Methods and Results—In a randomized, double-blind, crossover, controlled trial, 33 hypercholesterolemic individuals received 25 mL/day of VOO, FVOO, and FVOOT. Intervention periods were of 3-weeks separated by 2-week washout periods. Lipoprotein particle counts and subclasses were measured by NMR. Polyphenols from olive oil and thyme modified the lipoprotein subclasses profile and decreased the total LDL particle/total HDL particle (HDL-P), small HDL/large HDL, and HDL-cholesterol/HDL-P ratios, and decreased the lipoprotein insulin resistance index (LP-IR) (P<0.05). Conclusions—Olive oil polyphenols, and those from thyme provided benefits on lipoprotein particle atherogenic ratios and subclasses profile distribution. Polyphenol-enriched olive oil is a way of increasing the olive oil healthy properties while consuming the same amount of fat, as well as a useful and complementary tool for the management of cardiovascular risk individuals.

This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, The VOHF Project (AGL2009-13517). Work done by ATR was supported by the intramural National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, MD. We thank NUPROAS HB for their substantial contribution interpreting the data and revising the manuscript critically.