The Mediterranean diet (MeD) is well-known to impart considerable
protection against the occurrence of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
In particular, the plethora of protective health benefits
of the MeD including improved lipid profile and reduced inflammation
has been linked largely to the high levels of fatty acid content found
in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO).
In addition, while there are a few human clinical studies on the
acute effect of high intake of EVOO on gene expression changes, to date
there are no reports on the EVOO effect on the whole transcriptome
expression profile (genome and RNA).
The regulation of normal
biological function at the cellular and molecular levels is through
small RNA sequences known as MicroRNA (miRNA) that have been promising
as therapeutic targets for certain diseases. Advances in whole genome
mRNA (transcriptome) sequencing has led to comprehensive analysis of RNA
transcripts in a given tissue sample.
In a recent study
published in Biochim Biophys Acta, a collaborative group of researchers
in Italy took advantage of transcriptome sequencing technology and
investigated the health protective mechanisms of extra virgin olive oil
by identifying gene expression signature after an acute consumption of
EVOO in both healthy volunteers and metabolic syndrome patients.