OLIVE OILS AND HEALTH 122 Strong adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet has been associated with better physical, muscle, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Other studies have shown that acute EVOO supplementation (25 mL) improves cardiovascular and respiratory responses during aerobic cardiorespiratory exercise. - Oxidative stress Free radicals, produced by normal metabolism, are reactive compounds which can promote molecular damage. During exercise, and due to metabolism activation, levels of free radicals increase. Antioxidant compounds neutralize free radical effects. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between physiological mechanisms of production and neutralization of radicals, for instance, between oxidant and antioxidant compounds. The consequences of oxidative stress generation during physical activity performance are complex and dual. Moderate oxidative stress could be beneficial, but at high level might promote cell damage. In experimental models, EVOO has been demonstrated to have an antioxidant effect due to both its fatty acid and antioxidant contents. Free radicals can damage the lipids in cell membranes, and polyunsaturated fatty acids are more susceptible to oxidation than monounsaturated ones. In this regard, given that the olive oil fatty acid is a monounsaturated one, olive oil consumption enriches cell membranes with this fatty acid making them less susceptible to oxidation. Cell membrane lipid oxidation should be avoided because it promotes a cascade of molecular phenomena resulting in protein damage and cell process disturbances. The effect of oxidant and antioxidant systems is complex, it depends upon numerous factors and can result in both beneficial and harmful effects. A dietary pattern such as the Mediterranean one with abundant and varied vegetal products, including EVOO, protects against oxidative stress through both its type of fatty acid and its high antioxidant content. This dietary pattern is the most recommended to increase the physiological antioxidant pool. Studies with vitamin supplementation have demonstrated that greater vitamin ingestion than that recommended does not promote better sport performance, moreover, excessive antioxidant vitamin ingestion (pharmacological doses) can be harmful for health. EVOO antioxidant supplementation has also not been found to exert a beneficial effect on sport performance. - Inflammation Inflammation is a complex process and differences between local and systemic (generalised) inflammation should be highlighted. Local inflammation is a pro-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Njg1MjYx