He and his team named their discovery oleocanthal and found that, although it has a different chemistry, its effect is similar to that of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compound in the commercial pain-killer.
This is a significant discovery because scientists believe to an increasing extent that inflammation plays an important part in a variety of chronic diseases like stroke, heart disease, and breast and lung cancer.
The researchers say their findings raise the possibility that long-term consumption of oleocanthal may help to protect against some diseases.
The findings may also help explain the health benefits long attributed to the olive-oil rich Mediterranean diet.
The research is published in the science journal Nature.
Considerable improvements were seen in the dietary habits of both patients and their families; saturated fat consumption levels of patients decreased by almost 16% (12% in partners), with 68% of patients (62% of partners) reaching the target of less than 10% saturated fat within their daily diets. EuroAction patients increased their consumption of fruit and vegetables by an average of 155 grams each day (113 grams each day for partners), with a 23% (25% in partners) improvement against baseline in the amount of patients eating the recommended daily amount of 400 grams of these types of foods. EuroAction patients increased their consumption of fish with 58% (71% of partners) eating oily fish three times or more each week.
EuroAction patients and families also became more physically active. A quarter of patients were regularly active (20% of partners) according to the Caspersen and Powell Classification; an absolute increase of 11% compared to baseline (5% in partners). Over three quarters (86%) of patients (83% of partners) reported themselves to be highly active according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), an improvement of around one-fifth against baseline. Objective measures confirmed these self-reported improvements with a step counter showing an increase of 1362 steps (739 for partners). Assuming an average of three feet per step, this equates to patients walking around an extra three quarters of a mile each day.
Cardio-protective drug therapies were widely prescribed with 95% of patients taking anti-platelet drugs, 79% on beta-blockers, 58% on ACE inhibitors/ angiotensin receptor blockers, 19% on calcium antagonists and 86% on statins.
EuroAction is an initiative of the European Society of Cardiology, which further highlights its continued commitment to improve the quality of life of the European population by reducing the impact of cardiovascular disease, and is solely sponsored by AstraZeneca through the provision of an unconditional educational grant.
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