Olive Oil Promotes Mitochondrial Function

SHANGHAI, ChinaA recent Chinese study found hydroxytyrosol (HT) in extra-virgin olive oil, a staple in the Mediterranean diet, is able to promote mitochondrial function by stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis, leading to possible prevention of obesity and diabetes (J Nutr Biochem. 2009) (DOI:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2009.03.012). Researchers investigated effects of HT that stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis and promote mitochondrial function in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
The HT treatment resulted in an enhancement of mitochondrial function, including an increase in activity and protein expression of Mitochondrial Complexes I, II, III and V; increased oxygen consumption; and a decrease in free fatty acid contents in the adipocytes. The mechanistic study of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)GC1-alpha activation signaling pathway demonstrated HT is an activator of 5AMP-activated protein kinase and also up-regulates gene expression of PPAR-alpha, CPT-1 and PPAR-gamma.