Mediterranean Diet With Extra Virgin Olive Oil May Reduce Covid-19 Risk

Summary

• New study links Olive Oil powered Mediterranean Diet With Reduced Risk From Covid-19
• Anti-inflammatory Properties of Mediterranean staples like extra virgin olive oil is key factor in health benefits
• Extra virgin olive oil can protect body from damaging cytokines – a factor in immune response to Covid-19

Contents

1. Extra Virgin Olive Oil Fuelled Mediterranean Diet May Reduce Covid-19 Risk Says New Study
2. Why We Should Guard Against Covid-19 With A Healthy Diet And Lifestyle
3. Anti-Inflammatory Foods Like Extra Virgin Olive Oil And Reduced Risk From Covid-19
4. How Extra Virgin Olive Oil Can Protect Against Covid Related Harmful Cytokines

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Fuelled Mediterranean Diet May Reduce Covid-19 Risk Says New Study

Following the Mediterranean Diet – which includes extra virgin olive oil – can reduce your risk of getting Covid-19, according to a new study.

Researchers in Indonesia have shown that following the Mediterranean Diet with its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce development and severity of Covid-19.

The report in journal PLOS One states:

“There have been numerous studies that heavily associated COVID-19 with inflammation (in the body), while the Mediterranean diet has been long-known for its anti-inflammatory properties,” said the review’s senior author Andre Siahaan, a lecturer and member of the Center of Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of North Sumatra in Indonesia, via email. “Through our study, we reported a link that further strengthened the connection between these two, in line with our hypothesis.”

Why We Should Guard Against Covid-19 With A Healthy Diet And Lifestyle

A summary of the research in CNN, explains:

Since the coronavirus struck in 2019, there have been more than 775 million reported cases of infection, according to the World Health Organization. That number is still growing, with more than 47,000 cases reported within just the week leading up to August 4 — the most recent statistic from the WHO. More than 7 million people have died from Covid-19.

To investigate whether the risk of infection and severity may be alleviated by the Mediterranean diet, the team reviewed six studies with more than 55,400 participants total across five countries and were published between 2020 and 2023. Participants reported their adherence to the Mediterranean diet using questionnaires.

To determine Covid-19 cases, four studies relied on participants’ reports on whether they had been infected, while another study identified cases by both self-reports and tests for antibodies. All studies with findings regarding symptom severity were also based on participants’ recollections.

Three studies found a “significant” association between the Mediterranean diet and reduced risk of coronavirus infection, while two other studies showed nonsignificant results. Across all these studies, participants following the Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of infection — which can’t be reliably quantified into a specific number partly due to the variance in significance across studies, Siahaan said.

But whether the diet could also reduce the number of symptoms or the severity of disease isn’t as clear, said the authors, who graded the evidence on these aspects as “low certainty.”

Only one study reported a significant link between greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet and fewer Covid-19 symptoms, yet three others found a nonsignificant relationship. One study found the diet reduced the likelihood of severe Covid-19, while two others had inconsistent findings.

Among the food categories measured in some studies, higher consumption of olive oil, fruit and nuts; lower consumption of cereal and red meat; and moderate intake of alcohol were associated with a lower risk of coronavirus infection. Eating more vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, fish and whole grains was linked with lower odds of severe Covid-19.

“These results could have significant public health implications, underscoring the importance of optimal nutrition in preventing both communicable and noncommunicable diseases,” said Dr. Jordi Merino, associate professor at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Merino wasn’t involved in the review.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods Like Extra Virgin Olive Oil And Reduced Risk From Covid-19

Inflammation has been associated with both the development and severity of Covid-19.

A healthy diet, like the Mediterranean diet, including extra virgin olive oil like Morocco Gold can help combat inflammatory diseases. The polyphenols Oleouropein Aglycone and Oleocanthal within extra virgin olive oil help to combat inflammatory diseases Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil is rich in both of these polyphenols.

Inflammation is a critical response to potential danger signals and damage in organs in our body. In diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and others, the immune system turns against the bodies’ organs. These painful and, in some cases, progressively debilitating conditions can take a toll on people’s quality of life and create both societal and economic burdens.

Phenols and polyphenols serve as the core substances that give Extra Virgin Olive Oil its unique anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers have determined that small amounts of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, as low as one tablespoon per day, can lower inflammatory signalling in our body, including levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).

Interestingly, in Mediterranean-type diets that include daily intake of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, not only is there less production of signalling molecules like TNF-alpha, but there is also less activity by the cell receptors for these pro-inflammatory molecules. (This decreased receptor activity has been shown for tumour necrosis factor receptor 60 (TNFR 60) and tumour necrosis factor receptor 80 (TNFR 80). Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) have also been show to decrease with daily intake of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

In addition, scientists have shown that individuals who regularly consume Olive Oil have reduced activity of their pro-inflammatory cyclo-oxygenase 1 (COX-1) and cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) enzymes, as well as reduced levels of related molecules including thromboxane B2 and leukotriene B4. Two molecules that are known to increase during inflammatory disease processes, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), have also been shown to decrease in amount following intake of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

How Extra Virgin Olive Oil Can Protect Against Covid Related Harmful Cytokines

A common feature for many patients that get severe COVID is serious lung damage caused by an overly vigorous immune response. This is characterised by the creation of lots of inflammatory products called cytokines – the so-called cytokine storm.

As reported in the Olive Oil Times , extra virgin olive oil has been shown to reduce levels of cytokine in the body, which in turn can reduce both the symptoms associated with COVID-19 and their severity. Cytokines are small proteins that are crucial in controlling the growth and activity of other immune system cells and blood cells. When released, they signal the immune system to do its job. Cytokines affect the growth of all blood cells and other cells that help the body’s immune and inflammation responses.

Although cytokines are an important component of our immune system, too many of these can lead to what is known as a ‘cytokine storm’.  This is essentially an overreaction of our immune system which can have a seriously detrimental impact on COVID-19 sufferers and, in some cases, lead to fatality. This is because cytokine storms reduce the amount of oxygen circulating in our blood, causing fluid build-up in the lungs and lead to life-threatening breathing difficulties.