Effect of virgin olive oil as spreadable preparation on atherosclerosis compared to dairy butter in Apoe-deficient mice

Olive oil is the main source of lipid energy in the Mediterranean diet and there is strong evidence of its health benefits. The effect of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) in the form of a preparation of spreadable virgin olive oil (S-VO) on the progression of atheroma plaques was investigated in Apoe-deficient mice, a model of accelerated atherosclerosis. Methods: Two isocaloric Western purified diets containing 20% fat, either as S-VO or as dairy butter, were used to feed 28 males and 16 females of two-month-old Apoe-deficient mice for 12 weeks. S-VO was prepared by blending more than 75% virgin olive oil with other vegetal natural fat to obtain a solid fat. Plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol were measured. Hepatic lipid droplets were analyzed. Areas of atherosclerotic aortic lesions were quantified in cross-sectional images of the proximal aorta and en face analysis of the whole aorta. Results: Total plasma cholesterol was increased in mice on the butter-supplemented diet in both female and male mice compared to S-VO, and the ratio of TC/HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower in S-VO than in the butter diet, although only in males, and no differences in plasma triglycerides were observed. No significant differences in hepatic lipid droplets were observed between diets in either sex. Aortic lesion areas were significantly higher in mice consuming the butter versus the S-VO diet in both sexes. Conclusion: Extra virgin olive oil prepared in spreadable form maintained the delay in atheroma plaque progression compared to butter.

Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. This research was supported by grants CIBEROBN (CB06/03/1012, January 1, 2008) CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III as an initiative of FEDER-ISCIII, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN/AEI/10. 13039/501100011033, PID2019-104915RB-I00 and PID2022-136414OB-I00), "ERDF A way of making Europe", by the European Union and Fondo Social Europeo-Gobierno de Aragón (B16_23R) and private grants from the Ibercaja and Instituto de Estudios Altoaragoneses foundations.

EVOO

Phenols

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

Apolipoprotein E defcient mice

Published