Extra Virgin Olive Oil Reduces Gut Permeability and Metabolic Endotoxemia in Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Background: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) improves post-prandial glycemia, but the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. We tested the hypothesis that EVOO improves post-prandial glycemia by reducing gut permeability-derived low-grade endotoxemia. Methods: Serum levels of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), zonulin, a marker of gut permeability, glucose, insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) were measured in 20 patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and 20 healthy subjects (HS) matched for sex and age. The same variables were measured in IFG patients (n = 20) and HS (n = 20) before and after a Mediterranean diet with 10 g EVOO added or not (n = 20) or in IFG patients (n = 20) before and after intake of 40 g chocolate with EVOO added or not. Results: Compared to HS, IFG had higher levels of LPS and zonulin. In HS, meal intake was associated with a significant increase of blood glucose, insulin, and GLP1 with no changes of blood LPS and zonulin. Two hours after a meal intake containing EVOO, IFG patients showed a less significant increase of blood glucose, a more marked increase of blood insulin and GLP1 and a significant reduction of LPS and zonulin compared to IFG patients not given EVOO. Correlation analysis showed that LPS directly correlated with blood glucose and zonulin and inversely with blood insulin. Similar findings were detected in IFG patients given a chocolate added or without EVOO. Conclusion: Addition of EVOO to a Mediterranean diet or chocolate improves gut permeability and low-grade endotoxemia.

Gut-derived low-grade endotoxaemia, atherothrombosis and cardiovascular disease

“…Indeed, high adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been associated with beneficial microbiome-related metabolomic profiles, an increase in plasma SCFA levels and a reduction in circulating LPS levels compared with low adherence to the Mediterranean diet 126,131,132 . Administration of extra virgin olive oil, a key component of the Mediterranean diet, reduced endotoxaemia and serum zonulin levels and improved the metabolic profile of healthy individuals and patients with impaired fasting glucose 133 . These findings have been corroborated by an interventional study that found decreased circulating levels of LPS in patients with metabolic syndrome who received a fibre-rich diet for 75 days 134 .…”

The Role of Nutrition in Chronic Disease

“…Some of the nutraceuticals/drugs that are examined include ferulic acid, melatonin, urolithin A and glucosamine, metformin and berberine, lipoic acid and broccoli sprout extract, and fibrate drugs and astaxanthin. Moreover, the effectiveness of extra-virgin olive oil as a means of reducing gut-permeability-derived low-grade endotoxemia in adults with impaired fasting glucose is presented in a study by Bartimoccia and colleagues [ 14 ].…”

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: What Do We Know in 2023?

“…The Mediterranean diet has in general a strong anti-inflammatory effect [ 114 ]. The dominant anti-inflammatory ingredients in this diet are omega-3 fatty acids, olive oil and phenolic compounds, as well as fiber and a low degree of food processing [ 112 , 114 , 115 ].…”