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Systematic Review

Health Outcomes Associated with Olive Oil Intake: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses

by
Manuela Chiavarini
1,
Patrizia Rosignoli
2,
Irene Giacchetta
3,* and
Roberto Fabiani
2,*
1
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, 60126 Ancona, Italy
2
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
3
Local Health Unit of Bologna, Department of Hospital Network, Hospital Management of Maggiore and Bellaria, 40124 Bologna, Italy
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Foods 2024, 13(16), 2619; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13162619
Submission received: 11 July 2024 / Revised: 1 August 2024 / Accepted: 5 August 2024 / Published: 21 August 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Review on Food Nutrition)

Abstract

:
Several studies suggested a negative association between olive oil (OO) consumption and the risk of several chronic diseases. However, an attempt to systematically search, organize, and evaluate the existing evidence on all health outcomes associated with OO consumption is lacking. The objective of this review is to describe the multiple health outcomes associated with OO consumption. The Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched through 5 April 2024. The selected studies met all of the following criteria: (1) a meta-analysis of both observational (case–control and cohort studies) and interventional studies (trials), (2) an evaluation of the association between OO consumption, mortality, and/or the incidence of non-communicable/chronic degenerative diseases, and (3) a study population ≥18 years old. Two independent reviewers extracted the relevant data and assessed the risk of bias of individual studies. The PRISMA statement and guidelines for the Integration of Evidence from Multiple Meta-Analyses were followed. The literature search identified 723 articles. After selection, 31 articles were included in this umbrella review. The primary health benefits of OO were observed in cardiovascular diseases and risk factors, cancer, mortality, diabetes, and specific biomarkers related to anthropometric status and inflammation. As a key component of the Mediterranean diet, OO can be considered a healthy dietary choice for improving positive health outcomes.

1. Introduction

Olive oil is obtained from the fruit of the olive tree (Olea europaea L.), exclusively by mechanical and physical means under certain conditions, particularly thermal conditions, that do not result in alterations in the oil, which has not undergone any treatment other than washing, decantation, centrifugation, and filtration [1]. Olive oil is an important element of the Mediterranean diet, distinguished as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010 [2]; in fact, olive oil represents the main source of meal fat [3].
Epidemiologic evidence has consistently shown that an increased consumption of olive oil is associated with a reduced risk of various chronic diseases. The findings from several key studies illustrate the broad health benefits of olive oil, highlighted particularly in relation to cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, body composition, blood pressure, inflammation, endothelial function, and hemostasis [4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. The largest trial on the Mediterranean diet tested supplementation with extra virgin olive oil in one arm and reported a significant reduction in hard endpoint compared to the control group [11].
Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid) (MUFAs) [12], unsaponifiable compounds (phytosterols, triterpenes, squalene, pigments, etc.) [13], and hydrophilic compounds (polyphenols, tocopherol, etc.) [14]. MUFAs and polyphenols (such as oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, and tyrosol) are important components that explain the protective role of olive oil in disease development [15,16,17]. Among the phenolic components of olive oil, oleuropein (OLP) is considered the most effective biomolecule [18,19].
Regarding the biochemical mechanisms through which olive oil components may exert their effects, some in vitro and animal studies have described the action on inflammation mediators, lipoprotein metabolism, endothelial function, and cell cycle regulation and metabolism [20,21,22,23,24,25,26].
Despite the nutritional and epidemiological studies cited, many questions about the role of olive oil in disease remain unanswered; moreover, causality is difficult to prove. Previous efforts to systematically appraise the evidence on olive oil have focused on single disease endpoints (e.g., CVD). Instead, in this review, we used the umbrella review methodology (i.e., the syntheses of existing systematic reviews with meta-analyses) [27,28,29] to capture the full spectrum of outcomes associated with olive oil intake and to systematically assess the quality and strength of the evidence across all health outcomes and medical conditions to highlight those with the strongest evidence.

2. Materials and Methods

The protocol of the current umbrella review was registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database (ID number: 42023450410, www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO (accessed on 14 August 2023)). This study was carried out according to the recommendations of the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses” (PRISMA) checklist [27].
The aim of this general review was to provide health decision-makers with information on a broad topic involving multiple outcomes. The specific questions included the following: “Is olive oil consumption beneficial for population health? Is the existing evidence strong and valid enough to assess the association between olive oil intake and health outcomes in adults?”

2.1. Search Strategy and Data Sources

Two authors (RF and MC) independently conducted a systematic literature search until 5 April 2024, without restriction, through three electronic databases: PubMed, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ (accessed on 5 April 2024); Web of Science, http://wokinfo.com/ (accessed on 5 April 2024); and Scopus, https://www.scopus.com/ (accessed on 5 April 2024) using the keywords “olive oil” AND “meta-analysis” in the title or abstract. Furthermore, the reference lists of the included articles were manually examined to find additional relevant publications. In addition to an electronic search, the authors reviewed the references quoted in the full-text articles to intercept further interesting articles. We included meta-analyses of observational and intervention studies investigating olive oil as a possible determinant for any health outcome.

2.2. Selection Process

The list of selected studies, the removal of duplicates, and the selection of studies of interest were managed with Zotero. Two authors (RF and MC) independently screened the titles and abstracts of all remaining articles before assessing the full texts. A third reviewer (PR) solved any disagreements. We used the PICOS framework (Population/Intervention/Comparison/Outcome/Study design) to guide our selection criteria. We included studies that met the following inclusion criteria: (a) an evaluation of the association between olive oil intake, mortality, and/or the incidence of non-communicable/chronic degenerative diseases; (b) adults aged 18 years or over in order to avoid the influence of exposure time on the outcome assessed; (c) a healthy or unhealthy population; (d) a reported summary of the estimated effect size, such as odds ratios (ORs), hazard ratios (HRs), or risk ratios (RRs), and their corresponding 95% confident intervals (CIs) for observational studies; and (e) reported effects such as weighted or standardized mean differences with confidence intervals (95%) for intervention trials. We excluded studies (a) published in a language other than English; (b) on animal models; (c) without a defined control group or a defined comparator. We also excluded meta-analysis with oleic acid or olive oil phenols as single components instead of olive oil.

2.3. Data Extraction

Using a previously defined form, the authors independently extracted data (RF and PR from observational studies, MC and IG from intervention studies). Any disagreements were resolved through discussion. From each meta-analysis, data extracted included the first author’s last name, year of publication, type of outcomes (cancer or non-cancer), number and design of included studies, comparison criteria, study population characteristics, number of events, sample size, type of reported effect size (e.g., relative risk/hazard ratio, odds ratio, mean difference), corresponding 95% CI, tools used to assess risk of bias and heterogenicity. Data were grouped according to the type of outcome.

2.4. Quality Assessment

The methodological quality of the included meta-analyses was independently assessed by two authors (RF and PR). In the event of a disagreement, a third investigator (either MC or IG) was involved. We evaluated the methodological quality of the included meta-analysis using the “A Measurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2” (AMSTAR-2) questionnaire, which comprises 16 items. The overall assessment focused on deficiencies in the following seven critical areas: the protocol was defined before starting the study (study registration) (item 2); an exhaustive literature search was conducted (item 4); the rationale for the exclusion of individual studies was discussed (item 7); an appropriate method was used to analyze the risk of bias of individual studies (item 9); appropriate methods were used for the statistical combination of results (item 11); possible bias was considered in the discussion of results (item 13); the possible impact of publication bias was considered (item 15).
The overall confidence level ranged from high (no or one non-critical weakness), to moderate (more than one non-critical weakness), low (one critical weakness), and critically low (more than one critical weakness) [30].

2.5. Data Analysis

For each meta-analysis, we presented the most adjusted estimated summary effect size with their 95% CI using random or fixed effects models. Dose–response analyses were also extracted from each study. Publication bias was assessed by the Egger regression asymmetry test [31]. The heterogeneity among studies was assessed by the I2 metric and Cochran’s Q test. For heterogeneity and publication bias, as also for other tests, p < 0.05 was adopted for the significance threshold because of the limited statistical power.

3. Results

3.1. Study Selection

The systematic search yielded 723 records, 123 from PubMed, 392 from Scopus, and 208 from Web of Science. Before screening, 234 records were removed due to duplication. Of the 489 records screened for titles and abstract, 443 were excluded. Forty-six studies were assessed for eligibility, of which fifteen were excluded based on the full text [32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46]. The literature search process is depicted in the flow diagram shown in Figure 1.
Study characteristics are summarized in two tables, depending on the measure of association used: one for outcomes summarized as standardized mean difference (SMD), and another for outcomes summarized as Risk Ratio (RR) or Odds Ratio (OR). Eighteen articles used SMD [9,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61], while fourteen articles employed RR [7,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72]. Seven articles described the association between cancer and olive oil consumption [61,62,63,64,65,66], twenty articles investigated the association between cardiovascular risk or disease and olive oil [4,47,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,67,68,69,70], four articles the association between anthropometric indices and olive oil [47,48,49,54], three articles the association between inflammatory biomarkers and olive oil [9,14,47], two articles the association between diabetes and olive oil [4,7], one the association between pressure ulcers and olive oil [71], and five the association between mortality and olive oil [4,61,67,69,72].

3.2. Quality Assessment of the Meta-Analyses Included

Using the AMSTAR 2 questionnaire, we assessed the methodological quality of the meta-analyses included in this umbrella review. The quality judgement was rated high in four articles, moderate in six articles, low in two, and critically low in twenty. The main criticisms were often related to the absence of PICO components in the research question and inclusion criteria, inadequate search strategies for literature, an insufficient discussion of the potential impact of heterogenicity, and bias on the results. Additionally, the sources of funding for the studies included in the review were omitted. The overall judgment is reported in Table 1 and Table 2, whereas the item-by-item assessment for each included meta-analysis is detailed in Supplementary Table S1.

3.3. Cancers

Three articles addressed “All sites cancer” [61,62,65], six discussed “Breast cancer” [4,62,63,64,65,66], and two focused on digestive system cancers [62,65]. The minimum number of studies included was two [4], while the maximum was forty-five [62]. Most studies compared the highest versus quantities of olive oil consumption [61,62,63,64,65,66], while two evaluated increasing gram increment [4,61]. All studies included participants older than 18 years, with four studies considering both men and women [61,62,63,64,65,66], and three focusing solely on women [63,64,66]. Five outcomes were assessed using OR: “All sites” of Markellos 2022 [62], “Breast cancer” of Sealy 2021 [63], Xin 2015 [64], and all outcomes of Psaltopoulou 2011 [65], whereas the remaining studies used RR. All articles employed a random effect model. Among studies targeting “All sites”, two studies [62,65] concluded that olive oil is a protective factor against all type of cancers. Regarding “Breast cancer”, only four articles [62,64,65,66] identified a significant association between olive oil consumption and breast cancer. Conversely, olive oil consumption appears to protect against digestive cancer in all studies addressing the outcome [62,65], particularly the study of Markellos 2022, which detailed outcome in gastrointestinal, colorectal, and upper aerodigestive cancers. The quality of the studies was rated low for two articles [61,63], critically low for three [64,65,66], moderate for one [62], and high for one [6]. For further information, see Table 1.

3.4. Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Factors

3.4.1. Association Measure RR or OR

Table 1 groups various cardiovascular disease outcomes, detailed as follows:
  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD), assessed by six articles [4,61,67,68,69,70];
  • Coronary heart disease (CHD), assessed by four articles [4,61,69,70];
  • Stroke, assessed by four articles [4,61,69,70].
Studies included ranged from two [70] to nine [4]. The study population was always older than 18 years and included always men and women. The comparison was mainly obtained by increasing the quantity of olive oil [4,61,67,70], but also by comparison of highest versus lowest [61,67,69].
All studies assessing the association between CVD and olive oil consumption found a significant association [4,61,67,68,69,70]. Concerning CHD, all referenced articles reported a significant association [4,61,69,70] with olive oil consumption. The association between stroke and olive oil consumption was significant in all the articles that examined this outcome [4,61,69,70], except in the study by Ke 2024, which compared the highest versus the lowest consumption levels [61].
Quality of the studies was low for two articles [61,70], critically low for three articles [32,67,69], high for one [4].

3.4.2. Association Measure SMD

Fifteen articles examined the association between cardiovascular risk factors using SMD [47,48,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60]. The outcomes analyzed were (Table 2):
  • Total Cholesterol (TC), considered in eight articles [47,48,50,53,56,60];
  • Triglycerides (TG), considered in seven articles [47,48,53,57,58,59,60];
  • HDL and LDL, considered in nine articles [47,48,50,53,56,57,59,60];
  • VLDL, considered in one article [47];
  • Ox LDL, considered in four articles [8,51,56,60];
  • Apo A1 and Apo B, considered in two studies [47,59];
  • Lp-A, considered in one article [47];
  • HbA1c, considered in one article [7];
  • “Metabolic syndrome”, considered in one article [54];
  • Glycemic profile, considered in one article [54];
  • Lipid profile, considered in one article [54];
  • Glucose, considered in two articles [8,48];
  • Fasting blood glucose (FBS), considered in two articles [7,55];
  • Insulin level, considered in three articles [47,48,55];
  • Homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), considered in two articles [47,55];
  • Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and/or Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), considered in six articles [47,52,54,57,58,60];
  • Malondialdehyde plasmatic (MDA), considered in three articles [51,57,60];
  • Ferric-reducing ability of plasma, considered in one article [51],
The type of oil analyzed included olive oil in eleven studies [8,48,50,51,52,54,56,58,59,60], EVOO oil in two articles [47,55], and a mixture of oils in one article [54]. The comparison is low-fat diet and other oils [48], regular diet and other oils [47,53,54,58], LPOO [56,60], other oil type [7,8,59], olive oil [50,51,57], natural products or placebo [52], EVVO or OO or refined OO or Virgin OO [53]. The population ranges from 79 to 10.996 participants and it is composed in all of the studies by over-18 men and women, healthy and not.
The association between total cholesterol and olive oil was significant in only three studies [8,56,59]. A significant association is also observed between HDL/LDL and olive oil [8,50,51,56,59] and between MDA and olive oil [51,56]. Another significant association is observed between blood pressure and olive oil [52,57,58,60], and glycemic profile and olive oil [7,47].
The quality of the studies was rated as critically low in eleven studies [50,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,71], moderate in three [47,48,60], and high in one [7].

3.5. Pressure Ulcers

A single meta-analysis assessed the association between pressure ulcers and olive oil [71]. This high quality meta-analysis highlighted a reduced incidence of pressure ulcers following topical application of EVOO, with no adverse effect observed (Table 1).

3.6. Mortality

Five articles evaluated the association between all causes of mortality and olive oil [4,61,67,69,72], two addressed cardiovascular mortality and olive oil [61,69], and one discussed cancer mortality and olive oil [61] (Table 1). The number of studies included varied from four [72] to fourteen [61]. The population examined in all the studies consisted of mixed males and females over 18 years old [4,61,67,69,72].
Olive oil appears to have a significant protective effect on all-cause mortality in all but one study [72]. Similarly, a significant association between cardiovascular mortality and olive oil consumption was found in one study [61], but not in another [69]. No significant preventive effect was observed for cancer mortality and olive oil [4,61].
The quality was low for one study [61], critically low for three studies [67,69,72], and high for the study of Martinez-Gonzales 2022 [4].
For further information, see Table 1.

3.7. Antropometric Indices

Four meta-analysis [47,48,49,54] explored the association between olive oil and various anthropometric indices, including Body Mass Index (BMI) [47,48,49], Waist Circumference (WC) [47,48,49], Hip Circumference (Hip C) [49], WC/Hip C [47,49], Weight [47], Total Body Fat [49], muscle mass [49], and body composition [54]. The meta-analysis considered olive oil or EVOO or refined olive oil administered in various forms, either as a culinary ingredient (consumed after cooking or crude) or in capsules. Comparisons varied widely, ranging from a low-fat diet and other vegetable oils [48], to a regular diet with other vegetable oils or animal fats [47] and diets that were either standard, hypocaloric, or supplemented with nuts or PUFAs or a low-fat diet [49,54]. All of the studies were performed on a population over 18 years old, composed of men and women. One study enrolled only unhealthy subjects [48], and one both healthy and unhealthy subjects [54]. We found no significant differences in anthropometric indices between intervention and control groups. Only BMI was significantly lower in the population that consumed olive oil than in a population exposed to a low-fat diet and other oils [48].
The analysis of the quality of the studies shows moderate quality in three studies [47,48,49] and critically low quality in one [54].

3.8. Inflammatory Biomarkers

Three meta-analysis evaluated the relationship between olive oil consumption and inflammatory biomarkers [9,14,47], focusing on CRP [48,57,65], IL-6 [48,57,65], IL-10 [47], TNF-α [9,47], flow-mediated dilatation, Adiponectin, sE-Selectin, sP-Selectin, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 [9]. All three studies incorporated EVOO or olive oil as a culinary ingredient of the diet, and additionally, one study also explored the effects of olive oil administered in capsules [9]. Comparisons varied widely, ranging from a regular diet with other oils or butter [47], to a low-fat diet or a diet enriched with nuts and PUFAs, or other vegetable and animals oils, or a general healthy diet [9], to diets rich in saturated fatty acids or other oil [14]. The numbers of studies included in the metanalyses ranged from three to fourteen. The study populations were all over 18 years of age, and included both women and men, healthy and unhealthy in two studies [9,14,47]. A significant reduction in IL-6 was observed in the intervention groups in two of the three meta-analyses [9,14]. Similarly, a negative trend for CRP was noted among EVOO consumers, although this was significant in one study [9]. One article identifieda positive association for flow-mediated dilatation, adiponectin, TNF-α, sE-Selectin, sP-Selectin, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 [9], although significance was only achieved for flow-mediated dilatation and sE-Selectin. Two of the articles were rated as moderate in quality [14,47], while one was rated as critically low [9].

4. Discussion

Our findings suggest that olive oil intake generally plays a preventive role against cancer risk, particularly significant when analyses combine both case–control and cohort study designs, or when only case–control studies are considered. On the other hand, when synthesizing results solely from cohort studies, a reduction in cancer risk was generally observed, but this lacks statistical significance. Similarly, the preventive effect of olive oil on cancer mortality, based on prospective studies, was found to be at the limit of statistical significance [61]. One reason for these marginal findings could be the limited number of cohort studies linking olive oil intake to cancer risk and mortality. Indeed, the most recent meta-analysis by Ke et al. in 2024 included merely seven and six cohort studies regarding tumor incidence and mortality, respectively [61]. Moreover, it is problematic that risk values associated with various organ-specific tumors (breast, skin, lung, bladder, and colon) are aggregated, as these organs likely vary in their sensitivity to olive oil’s preventive effects. Furthermore, most cohort studies only considered olive oils as part of the broader Mediterranean diet, without distinguishing the type of olive oil consumed. The potential cancer-preventive properties of olive oil are supported by numerous in vitro and in vivo studies, highlighting the role of its unique components, such as oleic acid and squalene; however, phenolic compounds, including simple phenols, secoiridoids, and lignans, have garnered the most attention for their substantial bioactive properties [73]. In vitro studies on tumor cells have clearly shown that these compounds can inhibit all stages of the carcinogenesis process (initiation, promotion, and progression) [74]. Animal carcinogenesis model studies have further demonstrated the anti-carcinogenic effects of both olive oil and its phenolic compounds [75]. It is important to note the significant variability in phenolic content across different olive oils [76], ranging from nearly zero in common refined olive oils, to 800 mg/Kg in extra virgin olive oils [76]. Unfortunately, no existing epidemiological studies have considered the phenolic content of the olive oil consumed in association with the risk of cancer. Further prospective studies, precisely calibrated to the type of olive oil consumed, are essential to determine if virgin olive oil may have a cancer-preventive activity.
A recent umbrella review [41] found that a Mediterranean diet and high olive oil consumption significantly reduces stroke risk, but does not significantly affect CHD risk. Moreover, three recent meta-analyses [4,61,67] confirmed the protective role of OO in CVD and stroke and also observed benefits of olive oil for CHD.
Analyzing only high-quality articles (AMSTAR: High, Moderate) that investigated cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood glucose levels, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, we observed substantial variability in the association of OO and the outcomes. For instance, one study highlighted the beneficial effect of high-phenol OO compared with low-phenol OO on ox-LDL levels and SBP [60], while another found that EVOO intake has a significant impact on insulin level [47]; finally, a third study [48] showed a trivial effect of OO consumption vs. LFD/other oil on serum lipid level and glycemic profile. Results about the importance of the kind of OO used are controversial.
Overweight and obesity are significant risk factors for CVD [77]. Diet composition has a great impact on body composition. The Mediterranean diet, with EVOO as a typical fat source, is often recommended as a strategy to reduce body fat. However, the impact of EVOO on anthropometric indices remains clear. This umbrella review included four meta-analyses on the association between olive oil intake and various anthropometric parameters, including BMI, WC, WC/hip ratio, body fat, weight, and muscle mass, have been considered. The results are often contradictory; only the BMI appears to decrease significantly in olive oil intervention groups compared to controls. This inconsistency may stem from the heterogeneity of the subjects involved (healthy or not), the type of olive oil used (refined, EVOO, whether cooked or raw, in capsules), and the duration of the intervention. Moreover, the specific olive cultivar used can significantly influence the concentration and effects of bioactive molecules [78].
It is well known that chronic inflammation plays a crucial role in the upset of CVDs, which are considered inflammatory diseases [79]. There is substantial evidence of the anti-inflammatory properties of the Mediterranean diet [80]. It is therefore very interesting to evaluate the association between olive oil intake and inflammatory biomarkers. Although the oldest meta-analysis [9] showed a statistically significant reduction in CRP and IL-6 levels in subjects treated with olive oil, more recent meta-analyses [14,47] have not confirmed these findings. However, it should be noted that the older meta-analysis included a much larger sample size (3701) than the more recent ones (485 and 493). In addition, it is possible that, as noted with anthropometric measures, various variables in intervention trials can affect outcomes.
Our results corroborate findings from the study of Toi et al. [40] on the preventive role of OO against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The intake of OO appears beneficial for the prevention and management of this disease and it should be promoted at both individual and population levels to mitigate the future burden of T2DM.
Among the outcomes considered in this umbrella review, we found the result of the meta-analysis on pressure ulcers (PUs) of particular interest [71]. Despite including only four RCTs, the analysis indicated that topical application of olive oil reduces the incidence of PUs by both extending the time of development and reducing days of hospitalization. This finding complements the benefits of EVOO on wound healing [81]. Because of its affordability, olive oil can represent a frequently used option for this injury.

Strengths and Limitations

Umbrella reviews, which analyze the overall results of previously published meta-analyses, represent a valuable tool for defining evidence-based public health choices; however, they may contain some limitations. Specifically, in this case, (i) according to AMSTAR-2, only three publications of the thirty-one selected publications are of high quality, while twenty publications (approximately 65%) are of critically low quality; (ii) studies on the effect of foods or nutrients are challenging to interpret due to variability in the methods used to quantify intake and the presence of different diets followed by the recruited populations; (iii) it must also be considered that the chemical composition of olive oil can vary significantly based on the cultivar, the degree of ripeness of the olives at harvest, and the pressing technique used [78], factors that alter the concentration and type of polyphenols, bioactive compounds crucial to the health effects of olive oil [82].
The results highlighted by this umbrella review underline the need to carry out further intervention trials using a common protocol in terms of time of intervention, type of olive oil used, characteristics of the population, and comparator, especially when results are expressed as MD.

5. Conclusions

The evidence synthesized in this umbrella review underscores the multifaceted health benefits associated with olive oil consumption, emphasizing its role in reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes. However, significant heterogeneity exists among studies, particularly regarding the types of olive oil used, the methods of administration, and population characteristics. The preventive potential of olive oil against cancer is supported by both in vitro and in vivo studies, highlighting the importance of its phenolic compounds. The evidence suggests a preventive activity in most cancer types, including breast cancer and digestive system cancers.
The health-promoting effects of olive oil result from a plethora of bioactive compounds such as monounsaturated fats, phenolic compounds, polyphenols, and vitamins that, by their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties [83], their epigenetic modification ability [84], and their microbiota regulation [85], contribute to the prevention of different chronic degenerative diseases.
However, the absence of epidemiological studies that consider the phenolic concentration of olive oil necessitates further research to ascertain the specific effects of various olive oil types on cancer prevention. The review also highlights the protective role of olive oil in cardiovascular health. Significant associations were found between olive oil consumption and reduced risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease, though results for coronary heart disease remain inconsistent. Notably, the mode of olive oil administration appears to influence health outcomes, with liquid oil showing benefits for blood pressure regulation, unlike capsule forms. Concerning diabetes, our findings confirm that olive oil intake could be advantageous for the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. This is supported by evidence showing a significant impact of olive oil on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity, suggesting its promotion at both individual and population levels to mitigate the burden of type 2 diabetes. The impact of olive oil on anthropometric indices and inflammatory biomarkers remains inconclusive, likely due to variability in study designs, populations, and olive oil types. While some studies report beneficial effects on BMI and inflammatory markers, others do not, pointing to the need for standardized intervention protocols in future research.
In summary, while olive oil exhibits considerable potential in promoting health and preventing disease, consistent methodological approaches in future trials are essential to validate these findings and clarify the specific conditions under which olive oil can be most beneficial.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/foods13162619/s1, Table S1: Item-by-item methodological quality of included meta-analyses.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, R.F.; methodology, R.F. and M.C.; software, R.F.; validation, M.C, I.G. and P.R.; formal analysis, R.F. and M.C.; investigation, M.C. and I.G.; resources, M.C., P.R. and I.G.; data curation, M.C., P.R. and I.G; writing—original draft preparation, R.F, M.C., I.G. and P.R.; writing—review and editing, I.G.; visualization, R.F., M.C. and P.R.; supervision, R.F.; project administration, I.G. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Figure 1. PRISMA flow chart of study selection.
Figure 1. PRISMA flow chart of study selection.
Foods 13 02619 g001
Table 1. Characteristics of studies that consider outcomes described with risk.
Table 1. Characteristics of studies that consider outcomes described with risk.
OUTCOME Cancer
Author, Year
(Reference)
Cancer SiteN° Studies
Design
ComparisonESStudy Population
Events
N° Total/
Controls
Effect Size (95% CI)
Random Model
I2 (%)Quality
Ke, 2024
[61]
All sites7 CO Highest vs. lowestRRM/F24,3531,648,8411.00 (0.96–1.04)9.8Low
All sites7 CO10 g/d increaseRRM/F24,3531,648,8410.99 (0.97–1.01)16
Martínez-Gonzalez, 2022
[4]
Breast2 CO
1 RCT
25 g/d increaseRRF150481,2430.88 (0.65–1.19)75.6High
Other sites2 CO25 g/d increaseRRM/F884530,3170.92 (0.56–1.52)16.7
Markellos, 2022
[62]
All sites6 CO
2 M
37 CC
Highest vs. lowestRRM/F29,830958,0650.69 (0.62–0.77)75.4Moderate
All sites6 CO
2 M
Highest vs. lowestRRM/F12,461929,7710.90 (0.77–1.05)51.7
All sites37 CCHighest vs. lowestORM/F17,36928,2940.65 (0.57–0.74)67.2
Breast3 CO
11 CC
Highest vs. lowestRRFN.RN.R.0.67 (0.52–0.86)82.5
Breast3 COHighest vs. lowestRRFN.R.N.R.0.67 (0.29–1.56)77.6
Breast11 CCHighest vs. lowestRRFN.R.N.R.0.63 (0.45–0.87)79.5
Gastrointestinal2 CO
13 CC
Highest vs. lowestRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.77 (0.66–0.89)40.6
Colorectal1 CO
6 CC
Highest vs. lowestRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.90 (0.79–1.03)0.0
Upper aerodigestive6 CCHighest vs. lowestRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.74 (0.60–0.91)32.7
Urinary trac6 CCHighest vs. lowestRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.46 (0.29–0.72)72.9
Sealy, 2021
[63]
Breast1 CO
1 RCT
Highest vs. lowestRRF129168,2370.48 (0.09–2.79)89Low
Breast8 CCHighest vs. lowestORF573913,1990.76 (0.54–1.06)82
Xin, 2015
[64]
Breast3 COHighest vs. lowestORFN.R.N.R.0.89 (0.62–1.29)76.1Critic. low
Breast9 CCHighest vs. lowestORFN.R.N.R.0.68 (0.52–0.89)76.7
Psaltopoulou, 2011 [65]All sites 19 CCHighest vs. lowestORM/F13,80023,3400.66 (0.59–0.75)62Critic. low
Breast5 CCHighest vs. lowestORFN.R.N.R.0.64 (0.46–0.89)N.R.
Digestive8 CCHighest vs. lowestORM/FN.R.N.R.0.70 (0.61–0.81)N.R.
Others6 CCHighest vs. lowestORM/FN.R.N.R.0.66 (0.55–0.79)N.R.
Pelucchi, 2011
[66]
Breast5 CCHighest vs. lowestRRFN.R.N.R.0.62 (0.44–0.88)N.R.Critic. low
OUTCOME Cardiovascular
Author, year
(reference)
TypeN° studies
design
ComparisonESStudy Population
events
N° total/
controls
Effect size (95% CI)
Random model
I2 (%)Quality
Ke, 2024
[61]
CVD6 COHighest vs. lowestRRM/F14,021168,5740.85 (0.77–0.93)40.7Low
5 CO10 g/d increaseRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.93 (0.88–0.98)74.1
CHD5 COHighest vs. lowestRRM/F8190170,7610.85 (0.72–0.99)60.3
4 CO10 g/d increaseRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.94 (0.87–1.01)78.9
Stroke4 COHighest vs. lowestRRM/F5045145,4280.93 (0.80–1.09)45.2
3 CO10 g/d increaseRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.95 (0.92–0.98)24.3
Martínez-Gonzalez, 2022
[4]
CVD7 CO25 g/d increaseRRM/F49,223806,2030.83 (0.74–0.94)50.4High
CHD2 CO25 g/d increaseRRM/FN.R.N.R.1.04 (0.83–1.31)55.6
Stroke2 CO25 g/d increaseRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.74 (0.61–0.91)20.7
Xia, 2022
[67]
CVD8 COHighest vs. lowestRRM/F14,033261,0160.85 (0.77–0.93)41Critic. low
5 CO5 g/d increaseRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.96 (0.93–0.99)67
Grosso, 2017
[68]
CVDN.R.N.R.RRM/FN.R.N.R.0.83 (0.77–0.89)0Critic. low
Schwingshackl, 2014 [69]CVD7 COTop vs. bottom thirdRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.72 (0.57–0.91)75Critic. low
CHD4 COTop vs. bottom thirdRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.80 (0.57–1.14)77
Stroke2 COTop vs. bottom thirdRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.60 (0.47–0.77)0
Martínez-Gonzalez, 2014
[70]
CVD3 CC
5 CO
1 RCT
25 g/d increaseRRM/F3436141,8600.82 (0.70–0.96)77Critic. low
CHD3 CC25 g/d increaseRRM/F152617270.73 (0.44–1.21)89
CHD3 CO
1 RCT
25 g/d increaseRRM/F1367101,4600.96 (0.78–1.18)72.5
Stroke2 CO
1 RCT
25 g/d increaseRRM/F54338,6730.74 (0.60–0.92)24.4
OUTCOME Diabetes
Martínez-Gonzalez, 2022
[4]
Type 2 diabetes3 CO
1 RCT
25 g/d increaseRRM/F13,389680,2390.78 (0.69–0.87)0High
Schwingshackl, 2017
[7]
Type 2 diabetes4 CO
1 RCT
Highest vs. lowestRRM/F19,081N.R.0.84 (0.77–0.92)22High
Type 2 diabetes4 CO10 g/d increaseRRM/F18,900N.R.0.91 (0.87–0.95)0
OUTCOME Pressure Ulcers
Hernández-Vásquez, 2022
[71]
Pressure ulcers4 RCTOlive oil vs. othersRRM/F10513440.56 (0.39–0.79)0High
Adverse effects3 RCTOlive oil vs. othersRRM/F412740.39 (0.06–2.62)0
OUTCOME Mortality
Author, year
(reference)
CausesN° studies
design
Comparison ESStudy Population
events
N° total/
controls
Effect size (95% CI)
Random model
I2 (%)Quality
Ke, 2024
[61]
All causes14 COHighest vs. lowestRRM/F176,729 723,2240.85 (0.81–0.89)88.4Low
CVD10 COHighest vs. lowestRRM/F49,257702,8310.77 (0.67–0.80)78
CHD1 COHighest vs. lowestRRM/F22619,2631.23 (0.71–2.16)0
Stroke2 COHighest vs. lowestRRM/F5714540,3831.04 (0.67–1.62)43.6
Cancer6 COHighest vs. lowestRRM/F56,569674,8340.89 (0.79–1.00)79.1
Martínez-Gonzalez, 2022
[4]
Cancer5 CO25 g/d increaseRRM/F56,487673,5020.94 (0.85–1.05)62.8High
All causes10 CO
1 RCT
25 g/d increaseRRM/F174,081733,4200.89 (0.85–0.93)65.2
Xia, 2022
[67]
All causes11 COHighest vs. lowestRRM/F173,817 713,0000.83 (0.77–0.90)93Critic. low
All causes5 CO5 g/d increaseRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.96 (0.95–0.96)0
Eleftheriou, 2018 [72]All cause4 COAbove vs. below medianRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.97 (0.82–1.15)N.R.Critic. low
Schwingshackl, 2014 [69]All causes5 COTop vs. bottom thirdRRM/FN.R.84,9880.77 (0.71–0.84)0Critic. low
CVD5 COTop vs. bottom thirdRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.70 (0.48–1.03)71
Stroke2 COTop vs. bottom thirdRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.60 (0.47–0.67)0
CHD4 COTop vs. bottom thirdRRM/FN.R.N.R.0.80 (0.57–1.14)77
Table 2. Characteristics of studies that consider outcomes described with MD.
Table 2. Characteristics of studies that consider outcomes described with MD.
Author, Year (Reference)Population CharacteristicsOil Type vs. ComparisonN° Studies (Design: RCTs)OutcomeEffect Size: MD, SMD, WMD (95% CI) Effect Model: Random/FixedI2 (%)Quality
Tsamos, 2024 [48]Age ≥ 18 y, N° 515 Men and women, healthy and notOlive oil vs.
1 LFD;
Other vegetable oils
4TCMD = 2.40 (−6.89, 11.70);
REM
38Moderate
5HDLMD = 1.42 (−3.45, 6.29);
REM
94
4LDLMD = 4.77 (−3.19, 12.73);
REM
42
6TGMD = 13.03 (−13.81, 39.87);
REM
86
6GlucoseMD = −0.69 (−4.84, 3.46);
REM
54
5Insulin levelMD = −0.42 (−3.60, 2.76);
REM
95
Morvaridzadeh, 2024 [47]Age ≥ 18, N° 2020, men and women, healthy and notEVOO vs.
Regular diet;
Other oils;
Butter
26TGSMD: −0.05; (−0.17, 0.07);
REM
19.07Moderate
27TCSMD: 0.07; (−0.12, 0.26);
REM
68.87
29LDLSMD: 0.05; (−0.12, 0.22);
REM
61.09
28HDLSMD: 0.13; (−0.03, 0.28);
REM
54.42
6VLDLSMD: 0.12; (−0.14, 0.38);
REM
30.31
10ApoA-ISMD: 0.16; (−0.17, 0.50);
REM
73.76
9ApoBSMD: 0.29; (−0.06, 0.63);
REM
72.12
4Lp-ASMD: −0.35; (−1.02, 0.32);
REM
83.96
16FBSSMD: 0.05; (−0.08, 0.18);
REM
0
10insulin levelSMD: −0.28; (−0.51, −0.05);
REM
48.57
9HOMA-IRSMD: −0.19; (−0.35, 0.03);
REM
0
9SBPSMD: −0.04; (−0.33, 0.25);
REM
63.02
9DBPSMD: −0.11; (−0.38, 0.16);
REM
56.26
Zupo, 2023 [50]Age ≥ 18, N° 415, men and women, healthy and notOlive oil vs. Exposure level (low, medium, high)8TC (overall)MD: 0.49; (−0.55, 1.53); n/a14Critically low
6TC (low)MD: 1.42; (−0.34, 3.18); n/a0
5TC (medium)MD: −0.05; (−1.73, 1.62); n/a0
7TC (high)MD: 0.05; (−1.98, 2.08); n/a16
10LDL (overall)MD: −0.83; (−1.67, 0.01); n/a73
6LDL (low)MD: 0.81; (−0.86, 2.47); n/a19
6LDL (medium)MD: 0.66; (−0.61, 1.92); n/a0
7LDL (high)MD: −4.28; (−5.78, −2.77); n/a83
10HDLMD: 1.03; (0.68, 1.38); n/a38
6HDL (low)MD: 0.66; (0.10, 1.23); n/a25
6HDL (medium)MD: 1.36; (0.76, 1.95); n/a0
7HDL (high)MD: 1.13; (0.45, 1.80); n/a70
Derakhshandeh-Rishehri, 2023 [51]Age ≥ 18, N° 3062, men and women, healthy and not2 HPOO vs.
3 LPOO
5ox LDLWMD: −0.29 U/L;
(−0.51, −0.07); REM
24.9Critically low
5MDAWMD: −1.82 μmoL/L;
(−3.13, −0.50); REM
94.9
34 FRAPWMD: 0.0 mmoL/L;
(−0.03, 0.04); REM
0
Fakhri, 2022 [52]N° 79, men and women, healthy and notOlive oil vs. Natural products or placebo3SBPSMD: −0.46;
(−0.97, 0.04); REM
59.2Critically low
3DBPSMD: −0.34;
(−0.66, −0.03); REM
0
Jabbarzadeh-Ganjeh B, 2023 [53]Age ≥ 18 y, N° 6482, healthy and notEVOO, OO, refined OO, Virgin OO vs. Usual diet;
Different oils
31TCMD: 0.79 mg/dL;
(−0.08, 1.66); REM
57Critically low
31LDLMD: 0.04 md/dL;
(−1.01, 0.94); REM
80
34HDLMD: 0.22 mg/dL;
(−0.01, 0.45); REM
38
32TGMD: 0.39 mg/dL;
(−0.33, 1.11); REM
7
Pastor, 2021 [54]Age ≥ 18 y, N° 10,996 Men and women, healthy and notOlive oil vs. Other vegetable and animal oils;
Standard healthy diet;
Hypocaloric diet;
Diet + nuts or PUFAs;
LFD
15Blood pressureSMD = −0.00;
(−0.06, 0.05); REM
37Critically low
n/aMetabolic syndromeSMD = −0.01, (−0.05, 0.03); REM55
12Glycemic profileSMD = 0.01 (−0.05, 0.06); REM32
n/aLipid profileSMD = 0.01 (−0.05, 0.06); REM32
Dehghani, 2021 [55]Age ≥ 18 y, N° 633, men and women, healthy and notEVOO vs.
Other type of oil
13FBSSMD: −0.07; (−0.20, 0.07); REM0Critically low
4HOMA-IRSMD: −0.32; (−0.75, 0.10); REM51.0
4insulin levelSMD: −0.32; (−0.70, 0.06); REM38.0
George, 2019 [56]Age ≥ 18 y, N° 2652 Men and women, healthy and not HPOO vs.
LPOO
3MDAMD = −0.07 (−0.12, −0.02); Random88Critically low
5oxLDLSMD = −0.44 (−0.78, −0.10); REM49
8TCMD = −4.47 (−6.54, −2.39); REM0
8LDLMD = −3.54 (−7.27, 0.19); REM67
8HDLMD = 2.73 (0.41, 5.04); REM65
Tsartsou, 2019 [8] Network meta-analysisAge ≥ 18 y, N° 7688 Men and women, healthy and not Olive oil vs.
HPOO
6GlucoseSMD = −0.08 (−0.23, 0.06) 5 NR0Critically low
10TGSMD = 0.04 (−0.07, 0.15) NR87
12TCSMD = 0.05 (−0.05, 0.15) NR65
11HDLSMD = −0.16 (−0.26, −0.05) NR66
10LDLSMD = 0.09 (−0.03, 0.20) NR11
5oxLDLSMD = 0.09 (−0.03, 0.22) NR0
Olive oil vs.
LPOO
6GlucoseSMD = −0.04 (−0.27, 0.18) NR0
6TGSMD = 0.01 (−0.12, 0.14) NR0
9TCSMD = 0.14 (0.02, 0.25) NR49
8HDLSMD = −0.13 (−0.25, 0.00) NR33
8LDLSMD = 0.19 (0.06, 0.31) NR60
3oxLDLSMD = 0.00 (−0.17, 0.17) NR0
Schwingshackl, 2019 [57] Network meta-analysisAge ≥ 18 y, N° 611 Men and women, healthy and not6 ROO vs.
7 MOO
NRTCMD = −0.03 (−0.13, 0.08) REMNRCritically low
NRHDLMD = −0.00 (−0.03, 0.03) REMNR
2LDLMD = −0.06 (−0.24, 0.12) REMNR
NRoxLDLSMD = −0.15 (−1.10, 0.79) REMNR
NRTGMD = 0.00 (−0.14, 0.15) REMNR
ROO vs.
8 LP(E)VOO
1SBPMD = −2.87 (−5.39, −0.35) REMNR
NRTCMD = −0.00 (−0.18, 0.17) REMNR
NRHDLMD = 0.01 (−0.04, 0.05) REMNR
3LDLMD = 0.05 (−0.10, 0.20) REMNR
2oxLDLSMD = −0.26 (−1.15, 0.73) REMNR
NRDBPMD = −0.02 (−3.95, 3.91) REMNR
NRTGMD = −0.03 (−0.19, 0.13) REMNR
ROO vs.
9 HP(E)VOO
3SBPMD = −2.99 (−6.12, −0.15) REMNR
NRTCMD = 0.01 (−0.09, 0.10) REMNR
NRHDLMD = 0.01 (−0.01, 0.04) REMNR
4LDLMD = −0.09 (−0.24, 0.06) REMNR
5oxLDLSMD = −0.68 (−1.31, 0.04) REMNR
NRDBPMD = −0.10 (−3.05, 3.24) REMNR
NRTGMD = 0.02 (−0.11, 0.16) REMNR
Ghobadi 2019 [59]Age ≥ 18, N° 1089, men and women, healthy and notOlive oil vs.
Other type of oil
26TCOO: WMD = 6.72, (2.8, 10.6); REM46.4Critically low
12Virgin Oil: WMD = 6.36, (−1.16, 13.9); REM70.4
6Refine Oil: WMD = 5.21, (0.72, 9.7); REM10.4
8Not stated Oil: WMD = 7.7, (0.84, 14.6); REM0
11ω3 RO: WMD = 6.4,
(2, 10.87); REM
19.4
12ω6 RO. WMD = 9.9,
(2.75, 17); REM
52.1
3SFA Rich oil: WMD = 2.2, (−9.04, 13.4); REM60
5MO: WMD = 6.5,
(1.11, 11.8); REM
0
24LDLOO, WMD = 4.2, (1.4, 7.01); REM23
12Virgin Oil: WMD = 3.36, (−1.33, 8.05); REM34
6Refine Oil: WMD = 5.04, (−0.96, 11.1); REM57.3
7Not stated Oil: WMD = 4.84, (−1.32, 11); REM0
12ω3 RO: WMD = 3.3,
(−0.2, 6.7); REM
4.2
10ω6 RO: WMD = 5.23,
(−0.2, 10.5); REM
22.6
3SFA Rich oil: WMD = 3.8, (−5.78, 13.4); REM50.3
5MO: WMD = 6.43, (2, 11); REM0
26HDLOO: WMD = 1.37,
(0.4, 2.36); REM
0
12Virgin Oil: WMD = 1.02, (−0.6, 2.64); REM4.4
5Refine Oil: WMD = 1.02, (−0.9, 2.9); REM6.6
9Not stated Oil: WMD = 2.3, (0.4, 4.2); REM0
12ω3 RO: WMD = 1.9, (0.5, 3.25); REM0
11ω6 RO: WMD = 0.75, (−1.4, 2.9); REM0
3SFA Rich oil: WMD = 0.76, (−1.2, 2.7); REM0
5MO: WMD = 4.11, (0.95, 7.3); REM49.1
25TGOO: WMD = 4.31,
(0.5, 8.12); REM
0
12Virgin Oil: WMD = 7.75, (2.77, 12.7); REM0
4Refine Oil: WMD = −1.22, (−17.8, 15.4); REM24.2
9Not stated Oil: WMD = 3.32, (−4.4, 11); REM0
11ω3 RO: WMD = 8.32,
(2.66, 13.9); REM
0
10ω6 RO: WMD = 5.51,
(−1.2, 12.2); REM
0
3SFA Rich oil: WMD = −8.3, (−17.4, 0.8); REM0
5MO: WMD = 3.9, (7.7, 15.6); REM0
10Apo A1OO, WMD = 4.3,
(−0.43, 9.01); REM
36.4
10Apo BOO, WMD = 4.05,
(−0.64, 8.75); REM
38.6
Zamora-Zamora, 2018 [58]Age ≥ 18, N° 6651, men and women, healthy and notOlive oil vs.
Diet;
Usual diet;
LFD;
Other type of oil
15DBPOO: MD = −0.73,
(−1.07, −0.40); FEM
84.5Critically low
Capsules OO: MD = 0.14, (−0.35, 0.64); FEM76.2
Liquid OO: MD = −1.44, (−1.89, −1); FEM86.9
13SBPOO: MD = −0.11,
(−0.68, 0.46); FEM
85.1
Capsules OO: MD = 0.17, (−0.72, 1.06); FEM87.5
Liquid OO: MD = −0.31, (−1.06, −0.44); FEM83.2
Schwingshackl, 2017 [7]Age ≥ 18, N° 3152, men and women, healthy and notOlive oil vs.
other oil;
Lowest OO intake
22HbA1cMD = −0.27, (−0.37, −0.17); REM0high
25FBSMD = −0.44, (−0.66, −0.22); REM26
Hohmann, 2015 [60]Age ≥ 18, N° 417, men and women, healthy and notOlive oil (HPOO) vs.
LPOO
2SBPSMD = −0.52, (−0.77, −0.27); REM32Moderate
2DBPSMD = −0.20, (−1.01, 0.62); REM94
6LDL SMD = −0.03, (−0.15, 0.09); REM39
4oxLDLSMD = −0.25, (−0.50, −0.00); REM80
6TCSMD = −0.05, (−0.16, 0.05); REM0
6HDLSMD = −0.03, (−0.14, 0.08); REM34
5TGSMD = 0.02, (−0.22, 0.25); REM91.9
2MDASMD = −0.02, (−0.20, 0.15); REM40
OUTCOME: Anthropometric indices
Tsamos, 2024 [48]Age ≥ 18 y; N° 1502, men and women, BMI: 32.45 kg/m2 at baseline; unhealthy subjectsOlive oil vs.
LFD;
Other vegetable oils
7BMIMWD: −0.57 (−1.08, −0.06); REM51Moderate
6WCMWD: −0.23 (−1.23, 0.76); REM0
Morvaridzadeh, 2024 [47]Age ≥ 18, N° 1372, men and women, healthy and notEVOO vs.
Regular diet;
Other vegetable oils;
Animal fats
17BMISMD: −0.04 (−0.17, 0.09); REM0Moderate
13WCSMD: −0.01 (−0.16, 0.13); REM0
3WC/HipSMD: −0.08 (−0.44, 0.27); REM0
16WeightSMD: −0.06 (−0.19, 0.07); REM0
Santos, 2023 [49]Age ≥ 18, N° 1208, men and womenEVOO or Virgin Olive oil or Refined olive oil vs.
Other vegetable and animal oils;
Standard healthy diet;
Hypocaloric diet;
Diet + nuts or PUFAs
LFD
41BMIMD: −0.05 (−0.23, 0.13); FEM0Moderate
33WCMD: 0.28 (−0.22, 0.78); FEM15
9Hip CMD: 1.31 (−0.24, 2.86); FEM0
12WC/Hip MD: 0.01 (0.0, 0.02); FEM0
18Total Body fat (kg)MD: 0.24 (−0.85, 0.37); REM33
22Total Body fat (%)MD: 0.02 (−0.57, 0.61); FEM0
20Muscle massMD: −0.27 (−0.58, 0.05); FEM11
Pastor, 2021 [54]Age ≥ 18 y; N° 1912, men and women, healthy and notEVOO or OO vs.
Other vegetable and animal oils;
Standard healthy diet;
Hypocaloric diet;
Diet + nuts or PUFAs;
LFD
17Body compositionSMD: −0.02 (−0.10, 0.05); REM18Critically low
OUTCOME: Inflammatory biomarkers
Morvaridzadeh, 2024 [47]Age ≥18 y; N° 493 men and women, healthy and notEVOO or OO vs.
Regular diet;
Other oils;
Butter
7CRPSMD: 0.03 (−0.20, 0.26); REM21Moderate
5IL-6SMD: −0.07 (−0.16, 0.30); REM0
3IL-10SMD: −0.06 (−0.33, 0.21); REM0
3TNF-aSMD: 0.03 (−0.32, 0.38); REM0
Fernandes M. Sc., 2020 [14]Age >18 y; N° 485 women and men; healthy and notEVOO or OO vs.
10 SFA-rich diet;
LFD;
Other oil
4CRPMWD: −0.30 (−1.46, 0.86); REM92Moderate
3IL-6MWD: −0.60 (−0.64, −0.56); REM0
Schwingshackl, 2015 [9]Age ≥19 y; N° 3701, women and men; healthy and notEVOO or OO liquid or capsules vs. LFD;
Diet + nuts or PUFAs;
Other vegetable and animals oils;
Healthy diet
14CRPMD: −0.64 (−0.96, −0.31); REM66Critically low
7IL-6MD: −0.29 (0.07, −0.02); REM62
8Flow mediated dilatationMD: 0.76 (0.27, 1.24); REM26
6AdiponectinMD: 0.44 (0.20, 1.09); REM56
5TNF-aMD: 0.02 (0.02, 0.07); REM95
2sE-SelectinMD: 3.16 (4.07, 2.25); REM0
4sP-SelectinMD: 10.78 (4.01, 17.54); REM41
7sICAM-1MD: 0.02 (0.04, 0.00); REM84
8sVCAM-1MD: 0.02 (0.05, 0.01); REM37
1 low-fat diet; 2 high-phenol olive oil; 3 low-phenol olive oil; 4 ferric-reducing ability of plasma; 5 not reported; 6 refined olive oil; 7 mixed olive oil; 8 low-phenolic (extra) virgin olive oil; 9 high-phenolic (extra) virgin olive oil; 10 saturated fatty acid-rich diet.
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Chiavarini, M.; Rosignoli, P.; Giacchetta, I.; Fabiani, R. Health Outcomes Associated with Olive Oil Intake: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses. Foods 2024, 13, 2619. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13162619

AMA Style

Chiavarini M, Rosignoli P, Giacchetta I, Fabiani R. Health Outcomes Associated with Olive Oil Intake: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses. Foods. 2024; 13(16):2619. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13162619

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chiavarini, Manuela, Patrizia Rosignoli, Irene Giacchetta, and Roberto Fabiani. 2024. "Health Outcomes Associated with Olive Oil Intake: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses" Foods 13, no. 16: 2619. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13162619

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