<p>A compound commonly found in extra-virgin olive oil may reverse some of the negative effects of a high-fat diet such as insulin resistance and liver disease, a new study claims.<br /><br />Hydroxytyrosol is a polyphenol found in extra-virgin olive oil, which is known to have antioxidant properties and may play a key role in its health benefits, researchers said.<br /><br />Researchers from University of Chile fed four groups of 12-14 mice either a high-fat diet (HFD) - 60 per cent fat or a control diet - 10 per cent fat, with or without five milligramme hydroxytyrosol per kilogramme body weight for a 12 week period.<br /><br />Blood and tissue samples were collected at the end of the experiment to study the dietary effects on oxidative stress, fatty acid composition and enzymatic activity in multiple organs.<br /><br />Analysis of blood samples showed an increase in levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with no change in high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol in mice who were fed a HFD, which were all attenuated by hydroxytyrosol.<br /><br />HFD also increased markers of insulin resistance in the blood which were reduced by hydroxytyrosol, though not to the levels of mice fed a control diet, researchers said.<br /><br />"Our results indicate that hydroxytyrosol may be a key part of the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil," said Rodrigo Valenzuela of University of Chile.<br /><br />"We have demonstrated that this compound may offer protection against oxidative stress and detrimental fatty acid composition in the liver, heart and brain caused by a high-fat diet."<br /><br />"Hydroxytyrosol is a polyphenol found in extra-virgin olive oil, which is known to have antioxidant properties and may play a key role in its health benefits," said Rodrigo Valenzuela of University of Chile.<br /><br />The study was published in the journal Lipids in Health and Disease. <br /><br /></p>
<p>A compound commonly found in extra-virgin olive oil may reverse some of the negative effects of a high-fat diet such as insulin resistance and liver disease, a new study claims.<br /><br />Hydroxytyrosol is a polyphenol found in extra-virgin olive oil, which is known to have antioxidant properties and may play a key role in its health benefits, researchers said.<br /><br />Researchers from University of Chile fed four groups of 12-14 mice either a high-fat diet (HFD) - 60 per cent fat or a control diet - 10 per cent fat, with or without five milligramme hydroxytyrosol per kilogramme body weight for a 12 week period.<br /><br />Blood and tissue samples were collected at the end of the experiment to study the dietary effects on oxidative stress, fatty acid composition and enzymatic activity in multiple organs.<br /><br />Analysis of blood samples showed an increase in levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with no change in high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol in mice who were fed a HFD, which were all attenuated by hydroxytyrosol.<br /><br />HFD also increased markers of insulin resistance in the blood which were reduced by hydroxytyrosol, though not to the levels of mice fed a control diet, researchers said.<br /><br />"Our results indicate that hydroxytyrosol may be a key part of the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil," said Rodrigo Valenzuela of University of Chile.<br /><br />"We have demonstrated that this compound may offer protection against oxidative stress and detrimental fatty acid composition in the liver, heart and brain caused by a high-fat diet."<br /><br />"Hydroxytyrosol is a polyphenol found in extra-virgin olive oil, which is known to have antioxidant properties and may play a key role in its health benefits," said Rodrigo Valenzuela of University of Chile.<br /><br />The study was published in the journal Lipids in Health and Disease. <br /><br /></p>