The journal Nutrients noted that during the study, over a period of four weeks, scientists provided extra virgin olive oil daily to 50 cholesterol patients and 20 healthy volunteers, and used the microcirculation assessment method to monitor changes in blood flow, tissue oxygen saturation, and blood pressure.
The results showed that patients with abnormal body fat levels had improved blood vessel function, blood flowed back to the tissues more quickly, oxygen exchange efficiency increased, and their diastolic pressure and pulse rate decreased slightly.
Scientists concluded that plant oils rich in polyphenols, such as olive oil, provide beneficial results for arterial health even when used in small daily doses, improving blood flow in the body and lowering systolic blood pressure.
The researchers stressed that the study was conducted on a small number of people, so it is too early to determine the therapeutic effect of olive oil. However, the study showed that olives, which are rich in polyphenols, may indeed support vascular health, especially in people with high cholesterol.
