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EVOO and Health

The Mediterranean Diet shows significant benefit in chronic skin diseases

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Psoriasis, acne, and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are chronic inflammatory skin conditions characterized by systemic inflammation and periodic flare-ups. The Mediterranean Diet (MeDi), which emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, fish, and EVOO, has proven anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Here, we present recent evidence1 supporting that the MeDi, as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, may reduce the severity and flare-ups of these chronic skin conditions.

Psoriasis typically presents as itchy, red skin plaques, sometimes painful, with silvery borders. About 40% of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, which can lead to irreversible joint damage.

Several studies show that closely following the MeDi is linked to lower psoriasis severity. (MeDi adherence was measured by scores on the 14-item PREDIMED food questionnaire.) People with the least adherence to the MeDi had the most severe psoriasis.

Notably, higher intake of EVOO and more consumption of fish (a main source of omega-3 fatty acids) were independently linked to less severe psoriasis and lower levels of CRP (C-reactive protein), a measure of inflammation. These findings suggest that both the MeDi as a whole, and the individual components of EVOO and fish, exert anti-inflammatory and protective effects in psoriasis via bioactive compounds, in particular MUFAs and vitamin D.

Acne has multiple contributing factors (genetic, environmental, bacterial) and, although it often emerges during adolescence, persists into the 20s and 30s in many people.

In a case-controlled study, participants with acne had significantly lower PREDIMED scores than did controls. Those with less severe acne were significantly more likely to consume EVOO, fish, and fruit; more severe acne was linked to lower adherence to the MeDi. (Another case-controlled study showed no significant association between the MeDi and acne severity.)

A separate study found that participants with higher MeDi adherence had lower systemic levels of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1), a protein that plays a key role in the development of acne.

HS is marked by painful lesions (boils) that often form in body areas with skin folds, such as the armpits, chest, and groin; these lesions can lead to scarring. Of all chronic skin conditions, HS has the most debilitating impact on quality of life.2

Three studies have confirmed a link between close adherence to the MeDi and lower HS disease severity. A large cross-sectional study found that consuming EVOO and choosing poultry over red meat were the main factors linking the MeDi to less severe HS in participants. Evidence indicates that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components of the MeDi—in particular, MUFAs, omega-3s, and polyphenols—can help reduce the severity of HS.

Key takeaway: The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant benefits of the MeDi distinguish it as a valid medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for the management of chronic inflammatory skin conditions, as
a holistic complement to pharmacological treatments.

References: 1. Annunziata G et al. Curr Nutr Reports. 2025;14(1):42. 2. Balieva F et al. Br J Dermatol. 2017;176(5):1170-1178.

Mediterranean Diet is Linked to Significant Reduction in Breast Cancer Risk

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Greatest effects among postmenopausal women

Closely following the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi), which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, limited lean protein, and healthy fats such as olive oil and nuts, has been linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases, including several forms of cancer. Numerous studies have shown associations between lower breast cancer risk in women and MeDi adherence. To clarify whether the the MeDi exerts a significant effect on breast cancer risk, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta- analysis that compiled and analyzed the existing evidence across a large international group of studies.

Methods: After a comprehensive literature search, 31 high-quality observational studies were selected for the final analysis (12 cohort studies and 19 case-control studies). Studies were published between 2006 and 2023 and conducted in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, with the majority in the United States and Spain. A total of 1,347,446 women were evaluated, grouped as overall, postmenopausal, and premenopausal. Participants’ ages ranged from 20 to 104 years. Follow-up duration varied between 8 and 33 years in cohort studies.

  • A cohort study is an observational study with an active group and control group, allowing researchers to calculate the occurrence of a disease in a population over time.
  • A case-control study identifies individuals with a specific disease or condition and assigns “matched controls”—people with the same demographic characteristics who are not part of the study—which enables researchers to evaluate the differences between these groups.

Results: The overall pooled analysis found a clinically significant 13% reduction in breast cancer risk in participants who adhered to the MeDi. The effect was greater in postmenopausal women across all studies and in participants of studies conducted in Asia. A subgroup analysis showed that moderate alcohol use (red wine) did not affect breast cancer risk in the overall group, but an additional reduction in breast cancer risk was seen in postmenopausal women.

Discussion: These results indicate that adherence to the MeDi may help prevent breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal women. It has been suggested that the polyphenols in olive oil and moderate amounts of red wine may contribute to the cancer-protective effects of the MeDi. In addition, phytoestrogens from vegetables and fruits may interact with the body’s estrogen production, thus helping to prevent certain types of breast cancer from developing. The sites of hormone production during the postmenopausal period (fat tissue rather than ovaries) may also account for the increased effect of the MeDi in preventing breast cancer in that population.

Conclusion: Adherence to the MeDi significantly reduced women’s breast cancer risk in a large meta-analysis of international observational studies involving more than a million participants. Future research will help identify the specific anti-cancer mechanisms of the MeDi and illuminate its varying effects across life stages and geographic regions.

Reference: Karimi M, Asbaghi O, Hooshmand F, et al. Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Breast Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Observational Studies. Health Sci Rep. 2025;8(4):e70736.

Eating a Mediterranean-Style Diet Improved Brain Health in US Hispanic and Latino Adults

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Background: Cognitive decline—worsening memory and more frequent memory loss or confusion—affects 10% of all US adults aged 45 and older. Incidence is higher—11.4%—among Hispanic and Latino Americans. In some cases, cognitive decline may be an early sign of dementia.

Close adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) is associated with a reduced risk of dementia and cognitive decline. The MeDi emphasizes fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, low to moderate amounts of dairy, eggs, fish, and poultry, and olive oil as the primary fat source.

Researchers have attributed the MeDi’s brain benefits to its cardiovascular effects, such as lower blood pressure, reduced diabetes risk, and improvements in blood vessel function and cholesterol levels. The first large-scale study of the MeDi in Hispanic and Latino Americans investigated whether the MeDi’s brain benefits are independent of its cardiovascular effects.

Preliminary findings from this 10-year study of 2,774 participants (44% men, 56% women; average age 64 at follow-up) were presented at the recent conference of the American Stroke Association, February 5–7, 2025.

Methods: At an initial visit, each participant reported their food intake during the previous 24 hours and received a score (0 to 9), indicating how closely their diet corresponded to the MeDi. Average MeDi score was 5. Ten years after the baseline visit, investigators obtained a brain scan via MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) for each participant.

The main outcome evaluated in the study was white matter integrity (WMI) and volume. The white matter of the brain (as opposed to the gray matter) consists of bundles of nerve fibers that, crucially, communicate information to different parts of the brain. WMI and volume are markers of the strength of those connections in the brain. MRI scans provide clear, detailed cross-sections of the brain, showing white matter and gray matter.

To account for the impact of cardiovascular benefits, the study also asked participants about multiple practices associated with heart health: regular exercise; healthy diet; not smoking; weight maintenance; and maintaining healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.

Results: Participants with higher MeDi scores had stronger connections between regions of the brain (preserved WMI) compared to those with lower MeDi scores. With each point higher in MeDi score, participants’ MRI scans also showed less structural damage to the blood vessels of the brain. After factoring in heart-health practices, the researchers determined that cardiovascular effects alone did not account for all the significant brain benefits of the MeDi.

Conclusion: Eating a Mediterranean-style diet improved brain health and preserved structural integrity in a high-risk population. Even small adjustments in food intake, closer to the MeDi, could help protect against cognitive decline and dementia. The brain benefits of the MeDi extend beyond its well-known cardiovascular effects—more research is needed to identify the brain-protective mechanisms involved.

References: 1. Trifan G, Moustafa B, Issan C, et al. Stroke. 2025(56);Supp 1:Abstract 100. 2. Mediterranean-style diet linked to better brain health in older Hispanic and Latino Adults. February 5, 2025. 3. Wooten KG, McGuire LC, Olivari BS, et al. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72:249–255.

How EVOO Combats Heart Disease

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Part II: The Power of Polyphenols

A large body of evidence shows that daily consumption of EVOO can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Part I of this two-part series highlighted the contributions of oleic acid (OA). The other bioactive components of EVOO that protect against CVD are its more than 30 polyphenols.

Factors that contribute to CVD include oxidative stress, inflammation, cholesterol, blood-vessel function, and high blood pressure (hypertension). Below, we’ll look closely at the mechanisms by which polyphenols work in the body to modify and improve these factors.

What are polyphenols? Polyphenols are naturally occurring substances in many plants and fungi. Most polyphenols are antioxidants, which means they help neutralize chemical compounds formed in the body that can damage cells. Hydroxytyrosol (HT) has been identified as the polyphenol in EVOO that is essential in the prevention of CVD.

HT combats oxidative stress

Oxidative stress can cause cell mutations and has been identified as an underlying cause of multiple aspects of CVD. Injured tissues release ions—charged particles—that bind to oxygen, creating an excess of unstable molecules. As an antioxidant, HT directly neutralizes these unstable molecules, or reactive oxygen species (ROS). HT has also been shown to inhibit the cell damage produced by ROS and to enhance the antioxidant abilities of cells in the blood vessel walls.

Lowers inflammation

HT can block some of the processes that signal for cells to mount an inflammatory response. In this way, HT reduces the impact of inflammatory substances that are linked to oxidative stress as well as to impaired blood vessel function, a key risk factor for CVD.

Reduces “bad” cholesterol and improves “good”

Polyphenols reduce the amount of small molecules of LDL (“bad” cholesterol), which do the most damage. Polyphenols also help prevent LDL from forming plaques that build up in the arteries,
or atherosclerosis. In a 3-week clinical trial, HDL (“good” cholesterol) functioning improved significantly in healthy patients who consumed high-polyphenol EVOO, compared with low-polyphenol EVOO.

Protects the blood vessel lining and lowers blood pressure

Polyphenols help prevent damage to the endothelium, the inner lining of the blood vessel walls, by increasing the production of nitric oxide (NO), a vasodilator—a substance that relaxes the blood vessels. By enhancing the production of NO, polyphenols can improve endothelial function, protect against arterial stiffness, and lower blood pressure.

References: 1. Lu Y, Zhao J, Xin Q, et al. Food Science and Human Wellness. 2024;13:529-540. 2. Pandey KB, Rizvi SI. Plant polyphenols as dietary antioxidants in human health and disease. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2009;2(5):270-278. doi:10.4161/oxim.2.5.9498 3. Lobo V, Patil A, Phatak A, Chandra N. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010;4(8):118-126. 4. Hernáez Á, Fernández-Castillejo S, Farràs M, et al. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2014;34(9):2115-2119.