Corbella extra virgin olive oil shows potential effects on brain function in young adults

The HEVOOC study, developed by our group (Polyphenol Research Group), is a randomized clinical trial with a crossover design aimed at evaluating the effect of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) consumption on the gut–brain axis in healthy young adults.

In collaboration with IRTA and OLI MIGJORN, Corbella variety EVOO has been used, optimized for its high sensory quality and its content of phenolic compounds. We have obtained the first results, which show that one month of daily EVOO consumption is associated with changes in brain function, including increased resting-state functional connectivity in occipital regions, as well as higher urinary levels of hydroxytyrosol-glucuronide, a validated biomarker of EVOO intake.

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These results were published in Food & Function and suggest a potential neuromodulatory effect of EVOO phenolic compounds, further supporting the relevance of the Mediterranean diet for brain health. In addition, findings from the same study, recently published in Antioxidants, showed that the consumption of phenolic-rich EVOO significantly increased exposure to phenolic metabolites and may contribute to improvements in certain cardiometabolic indicators, although these findings require confirmation in larger studies.

Access to the publicactions:

https://doi.org/10.1039/D5FO05016B

https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15081033