The Mediterranean Diet is considered one of the healthiest in the world.  And a main staple of this diet is olive oil.

Olive oil has been shown to reduce bad cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, stroke and depression.

Italian scientists demonstrated the anti-aging benefits of olive oil.  One group of middle-aged mice was fed extra-virgin olive oil rich in phenols.  A second group was fed the same olive oil without phenols.  The phenol-rich group showed cognitive and motor improvement.  In fact, gene expression was similar to that of young mice.

The researchers concluded that even a dietary change beginning in middle age can improve “cognitive, motor and emotional behavior.”

Agilent genomics technologies used in the study included an Agilent Bioanalyzer system, RNA Nano LabChip kit, microarrays, DNA microarray scanner and software.

Agilent also helps ensure the quality and integrity of olive oil.

European scientists have developed a method for detecting different varieties of extra-virgin olive oils.  They used an Agilent High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph to measure the chromatic fingerprints of 140 samples processed from fruits of seven olive varieties.  The researchers believe theirs is the most accurate classification method for monovarietal extra-VOO.

Agilent has application notes available for analyzing stigmastadienes, polymerized triglycerides, chlorophyll, tocopherols, squalene, phenolic compounds and triacylglycerols in olive oils.

For more information go to:

• Mediterranean diet: A heart-healthy eating plan (Mayo Clinic)
• Olive Oil: Health Benefits, Nutritional Information (Medical News Today)
• A nutrigenomics approach for the study of anti‑aging interventions: olive oil phenols and the modulation of gene and microRNA expression profiles in mouse brain
• Assessing the varietal origin of extra-virgin olive oil using liquid chromatography fingerprints of phenolic compound, data fusion and chemometrics
• Quality analysis of virgin olive oils Part 1: stigmastadienes (application note, PDF)
• Quality analysis of virgin olive oils Part 2: polymerized triglycerides (application note, PDF)
• Quality analysis of virgin olive oils Part 3: chlorophyll (application note, PDF)
• Quality analysis of virgin olive oils Part 4: tocopherols (application note, PDF)
• Quality analysis of extra virgin olive oils Part 5: squalene (application note, PDF)
• Quality analysis of extra virgin olive oils Part 6: nutritive benefits (application note, PDF)
• Quality analysis of extra virgin olive oils Part 7: phenolic compounds (application note, PDF)
• Quality analysis of extra virgin olive oils Part 8: triacylglycerol (application note, PDF)
• Agilent Genomics Solutions
• Agilent Food Testing & Agriculture Solutions