It is now well established that olive oil has a preventive and therapeutic role in treating cardiovascular disease. The effects are attributed mainly to its high oleic acid content.
1. Prevent arteriosclerosis
In recent years various studies have highlighted the possible role of the antioxidant substances present in the unsaponifiable residue in relation to the development of atherosclerosis.
Olive oil has a differential effect over other vegetable oils rich in polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fatty acids, being very similar to the mechanism of action of omega-3 acid. They all lead to a decrease in LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), while only olive oil prevents cholesterol-lowering HDL (good cholesterol).
However, it is only virgin olive oil which inhibits the oxidation of LDL due to its high content of antioxidant compounds, particularly tocopherols and phenolic compounds.
Finally, there has been an immunoregulatory effect of arteriosclerosis in virgin olive oil, can modulate the processes of inflammation in the artery wall by inhibiting the production of cytokines, adhesion of leukocytes to the arterial wall and platelet aggregation .
2. Reduces blood pressure
Olive oil, through the oleic acid and its antioxidant components, affect various processes related to development of thrombosis. Thus, oleic acid reduces blood pressure, protects the endothelium of the artery and dampens the inflammatory process.
As to the phenomena of platelet aggregation (encouraging the appearance of a thrombus), olive oil reduces the same: increased concentration thresholds for compounds that induce its aggregation as collagen and adrenaline reduces the release of thromboxane A2 (key in platelet aggregation), and decreased levels of von Willebrand factor (vW Factor) that makes platelets adhering to the vessel wall.
Also involved in the clotting process. Reduces the procoagulant factor VII, Tissue Factor Inhibitor (TFPI), a substance essential in modulating the effect of Tissue Factor (TF), the main prothrombotic component of the ruptured plaque.