The Mediterranean diet is a traditional diet of many of the inhabitants of the geographical areas surrounding the Mediterranean sea. The diet is composed of whole grains, lean meat, fish and antioxidant rich plant foods that includes high intakes of olives and olive oil. In addition, red wine is also drunk traditionally with the diet. The Mediterranean diet has received attention because research shows an inverse association between consumption of these types of food and cardiovascular disease. The two components of the diet that have been identified as potentially beneficial to health are the red wine and the olive oil. Initial research into the olive oil focussed on the monounsaturated fats that constitute the majority of the triglycerides within the oil. However, subsequent studies have shown that it is likely the antioxidants within the oil that give it beneficial properties. Red wine is also rich in antioxidants.
Antioxidant nutrients, such as those in red wine and olive oil, may be protective of cardiovascular disease because they prevent dysfunction in the endothelial lining of the arteries by inhibiting oxidative stress induced inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis. For example, reasearchers1 have investigated the effects of red wine and olive oil on endothelial function by feeding 15 healthy subjects 4 study meals containing 50g of olive oil and 250mL of wine. A 2 by 2 design study used wine that was either red or white (antioxidant rich and poor, respectively) and olive oil that was either extra virgin or refined (antioxidant rich and poor, respectively). Flow mediated dilation, as measured by ultrasound, was improved by consumption of both olive oil and red wine postprandially, when compared to baseline flow. However, no other combination of wine and oil significantly; improved endothelial function.
Synergism of nutrients has only recently started to be understood and investigated experimentally. This is despite thousands of years of anecdotal evidence of the synergistic effects of nutrients from both Chinese and Ayurvedic traditional medicine. The results from this study suggest that red wine and olive oil in combination improve flow mediated dilation of endothelial tissue, but that individually the effects are not significant. Many studies report subtle non-significant improvements with single nutrient supplementation. However, these small non-significant changes should not be taken as evidence that the nutrients are not effective. This study shows that while individually, nutrients may not be able to produce detectable short-term effects, when added to other factors either in supplements or through the diet, significant changes can be detected. This study therefore highlights the importance of testing nutrients in combination as well as individually.
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