Olive oil is a factor of extraordinary longevity for some Sardinian residents.
A new study shows that olive oil consumption played a role in maintaining cardiovascular health and mobility in Sardinian seniors.
Daily consumption of olive oil may have played a role in the extraordinary longevity of a small homogeneous population of Sardinia.
In one of the blue zones of longevity, areas where an unusual number of people live exceptionally long lives, specific dietary habits of daily physical activity have overtaken genetics as a factor in longevity.
“Researchers have long been focusing on the genetic characteristics of this small population living in the mountainous area of central Sardinia, as demographics have shown us how their longevity and well-being data differed from those observed in other areas of the island. and also in Italy “, said Giovanni Pes, professor of medical sciences at the University of Sassari, in Sardinia, and lead author of the study just published.
“Our research, as well as many others, conducted here and elsewhere, suggest that there is no direct correlation between the genetic characteristics of the observed population and their longevity,” Pes said Olive Oil Times. “If we look at the most recent studies on genetics and longevity, we understand how the genetic factor does not exceed five or six percent in determining the longevity of a population.”
Lifestyle, nutrition, physical activity and social bonding must have played a more significant role in determining the characteristics of the Longevity Blue Zone than genetics, Pes said
The introduction of a more varied diet and the replacement of lard with olive oil led to further improvements, the researchers added.
“Our research focused on their food choices at a young age, investigating their food history,” Pes said. “While all the limitations to the memory-based research of the interviewed sample must be considered, we believe that during their nutritional transition their eating habits have improved since the Mediterranean diet.”
In recent decades, the production of extra virgin olive oil has been expanding in Ogliastra, which is located in the heart of the Longevity Blue Zone. High quality extra virgin olive oil is now produced and consumed by local residents.
“As expected, the analysis showed a beneficial health effect of increased olive oil intake on perceived health, physical performance and function of the sense organs,” the scientists wrote.
To correctly place all the pieces of a very complex puzzle, the researchers are now working with their colleagues, who are studying the older residents of three other known blue zones: the Greek island of Ikaria, the Japanese island of Okinawa and Nicoya in Costa Rica.
“Although eating habits may differ significantly, we are now studying common factors,” Pes concluded.
Author Paolo De Andreis
