Virgin olive oil consumption is linked to improved cognitive function and greater gut microbiome diversity in older adults with metabolic syndrome, according to a two-year study published in Clinical Nutrition.
The study tracked 656 overweight adults aged 55 to 75 over two years
Researchers from the Human Nutrition Unit at Universitat Rovira i Virgili, the Pere Virgili Health Research Institute, and CIBERobn followed participants in the PREDIMED-Plus project, monitoring diet, gut microbiota, and cognitive performance. Participants were overweight or obese and had metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions raising cardiovascular disease risk. The study is the first prospective human trial to directly examine olive oil’s role in the gut-brain axis.
Virgin olive oil users showed better cognition and gut diversity
Those who regularly consumed virgin olive oil experienced improvements in cognitive function and had more diverse gut microbiota, a marker of intestinal and metabolic health. In contrast, refined olive oil consumers tended to show declining microbiota diversity over time. The benefits were tied to virgin olive oil’s higher levels of polyphenols and antioxidants, which are reduced during industrial refining.
Adlercreutzia bacteria may mediate the gut-brain link
Researchers identified a specific gut bacterium, Adlercreutzia, whose presence correlated with virgin olive oil intake and preserved cognitive function. This suggests the oil’s brain benefits may stem from its ability to reshape the gut microbiome. Jiaqi Ni, lead author and researcher at URV’s Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, stated that not all olive oils offer these benefits, emphasizing the importance of choosing extra virgin varieties.
What type of olive oil showed cognitive benefits?
Virgin olive oil, particularly extra virgin, was linked to improved cognitive function and greater gut microbiota diversity in the study.
Why doesn’t refined olive oil have the same effect?
Refined olive oil undergoes industrial processing that removes beneficial compounds like polyphenols and antioxidants, which are preserved in mechanically extracted virgin olive oil.
