185 Virgin Olive Oil Benefits 15.5. The particular case of extra virgin olive oil Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the juice from olives, usually the greenest. It is obtained at the beginning of the harvest by solely mechanical procedures in oil presses and without any chemical treatment. It thus maintains the olive flavours and aromas, in addition to all the vitamins and minor compounds. Among the various olive oils, EVOO has the highest concentration of polyphenols, such as oleuropein and oleocanthal, which are responsible for its bitter and spicy characteristics. The best EVOOs, with an acidity equal to or less than 0.8 degrees, are evaluated by a tasting panel for their organoleptic characteristics and can only be labeled as EVOO when they meet high quality standards. EVOO has many health benefits, such as preventing hypertension and natural aging, and also promoting bone growth, especially during menopause. EVOO polyphenols are the main molecules involved in the anti-inflammatory properties of olive oil. In contrast to diets rich in foods from animal origin, an olive oil-rich diet prevents atheroma plaque formation with the concomitant cardiovascular protection. As has been previously mentioned, inhibition of the inflammatory response and the concomitant susceptibility to infections, is lesser in olive oil-rich diets than in polyunsaturated-rich ones, for instance those rich in fish oil. EVOO characteristics therefore make it healthier than other types of olive oil, a fact that is recognised worldwide. 15.6. Implications of olive oil for CoViD-19 development The SARS CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome; type 2 coronavirus) was responsible for the CoViD-19 pandemic. In non-severe cases the disease promotes similar symptoms to that of influenza such as fever, cough, myalgias, and fatigue. Sometimes, however, the diease worsens, and pneumonia and respiratory insufficiency appear, with death in approximately 5% of patients according to data from the “World Health Organization”. In the most severe cases an inense inflammatory response is the cause of a respiratory failure. This process, known as an inflammatory “storm”, is due to an overproduction of pro-inflammatory compounds. To inhibit this exacerbated inflammatory response in severe CoViD-19 disease patients, anti-inflammatories such as dexamethasone, a powerful glucocorticoid, and immunomodulators such as tocilizumab are used. Previously used to treat autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Its mechanism of action is to prevent the binding of a powerful pro-inflammatory molecule called Interleukin 6.
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