Olive oil beneficial for the elderly

On the Olive Oil Times website you can find a very interesting article retracing various studies that have been carried out and which demonstrate the beneficial effects of extra virgin olive oil on the health of the elderly.

Find the article in its entirety by following the link here or below an extract.

Researchers evaluated the effect of adding olive oil to the diets of healthy elderly people. The results showed that extra virgin olive oil lowered total cholesterol, but also increased good cholesterol.

The study included 62 participants between the ages of 65 and 96. They were divided into two groups; the control group maintained their current diet, while the other group consumed extra virgin olive oil as the only added fat in a daily dose of 50ml, which is about three tablespoons.

After six weeks, the researchers saw a significant reduction in total cholesterol, but also an increase in good cholesterol. Additionally, the 'olive oil' group had a higher total antioxidant capacity than the control group. The researchers concluded that a nutritional intervention with extra virgin olive oil improves antioxidant status in healthy older adults.

These findings that olive oil can improve antioxidant status as well as lipid profile in older adults add to recent research that points to the Mediterranean diet as the ideal diet for older adults. Three new studies have shown that a Mediterranean-style diet can have a positive effect on several side effects of aging.

Researchers have concluded, after following more than 3,500 men for 7 years, that the annual rate of development of depressive symptoms was 98.6% lower in elderly people following a Mediterranean diet.

Another study concluded that closer adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet led to a lower risk of memory loss, while yet another showed that it improves vascular dysfunction and may play a role in protection against chronic diseases related to aging.