Anti-inflammatory effect of virgin olive oil in stable coronary disease patients: a randomized, crossover, controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of two similar olive oils, but with differences in their phenolic compounds (powerful antioxidant compounds), on inflammatory markers in stable coronary heart disease patients. DESIGN: Placebo-controlled, crossover, randomized trial. SETTING: Cardiology Department of Hospital del Mar and Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica (Barcelona). SUBJECTS: Twenty-eight stable coronary heart disease patients. INTERVENTIONS: A raw daily dose of 50 ml of virgin and refined olive oil (ROO) was sequentially administered over two periods of 3-weeks, preceded by 2-week washout periods in which ROO was used.Results:Interleukin-6 (P<0.002) and C-reactive protein (P=0.024) decreased after virgin olive oil intervention. No changes were observed in soluble intercellular and vascular adhesion molecules, glucose and lipid profile. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of virgin olive oil, could provide beneficial effects in stable coronary heart disease patients as an additional intervention to the pharmacological treatment.