Protective effects of oleic acid and polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil on cardiovascular diseases

The Mediterranean diet has long been recognized as one of the most effective ways to prevent and improve cardiovascular disease.Extra virgin olive oil(EVOO)is the typical sources of fat in the Mediterranean diet which have been shown to have noteworthy nutritional value and positive impact on human health.It is worth noting that EVOO owes its superior nutritional value to its bioactive composition.The main component of EVOO is monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFAs)in the form of oleic acid.Oleic acid accounts for up to 70%-80%of EVOO.Secondly,EVOO contains approximately more than 30 phenolic compounds,of which HT is essential for the protection against cardiovascular diseases.In this review,we focused on the potential mechanisms of oleic acid and polyphenols combat cardiovascular diseases risk in terms of oxidative stress,inflammation,blood pressure,endothelial function and cholesterol.This review might provide a reference for the studies on cardiovascular protective effects of EVOO.

Sensory Evaluation of Extra Virgin Olive Oil （EVOO） Extended to Include the Quality Factor ＂Harmony＂

Sensory evaluation of olive oil, meaning the official organoleptic assessment of olive oil respectively the ＂Panel Test＂ （PT）, is based on the standards of the International Olive Council （IOC）, as well as on the Regulation （EC） 640/2008 of the European Commission. These regulations lead to the classification of olive oil as ＂extra virgin＂ （EVOO）, ＂virgin＂ （VOO） or ＂lampant＂, which however is not sufficient to clearly discriminate between different quality levels within the grade EVOO. The objective of the study at hand was to develop and validate an objective sensory evaluation method for the quality certification of olive oil within the grade EVOO. A new rating system, including a detailed description and evaluation of the complexity and persistence of flavour, was established. First, a comparison between different profile sheets from various olive oil competitions （Ercole Olivario, Premio Biol, Leone D＇Oro Mario Solinas Award, among others） and the official profile sheet from the IOC/EC for the panel test （PT） took place. In consecutive steps the basic test procedure from the panel test （PT） then was extended with additional sensory descriptors. Two trained olive oil panels （the German Olive Oil Panel （DOP） and the Swiss Olive Oil Panel （SOP）） were further educated to profile various green and ripe aroma components and to evaluate the complexity of the perceived aroma components and their persistency （descriptor： ＂harmony/persistency＂）. This extended methodology was cross-validated over a time period of 3 years between the two panels （DOP/SOP）.

Production of Cocoa Butter Substitute from Extra Virgin Olive Oil Rich in Omega-9 and Polyphenols

The objective of this study was to produce healthy cocoa butter substitutes from extra virgin olive oil rich in omega-9 and polyphenols by blending process with palm oil avoiding hydrogenation and esterification processes. Oil blends, formulated by binary blends of palm oil and extra virgin olive oil at different ratios (90:10, 80:20 and 70:30) compared with commercial cocoa butter. The physicochemical properties (refractive index, melting and slip point, color index, acidity, peroxide value, iodine number and induction period by Rancimat method) have been determined for palm and olive oils and the produced cocoa butter substitute. Also, fatty acid composition was identified by gas liquid chromatography and solid fat content of the produced cocoa butter substitute was measured by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and total polyphenols of oils and produced cocoa butter substitute were determined. The results indicated that all the values of melting and slip point were about the human body temperature (37°C), also results show a high content of cocoa butter produced from oleic acid, as well as phenolic compounds, and this leads to an increase in oxidative stability.

Value Chain Analysis of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in March

Today the olive oil production has an important role in many countries and Turkey remains in fifth place, with an average of about 150 thousand tons of olive oil in the world production. More than 50% of the total production of Turkey＇s olive oil is supplied in Agean region. Approximately thirty-five percent of the total exportation of Turkey＇s olive oil forms extra virgin olive oil （EVOO）, which contains a maximum of 0.8% acidity. Because of its low acid content, aroma and color, EVOO is much more valuable than the other types of olive oils. Extra virgin olive oil value chain from farmers to consumers includes the cost and selling price for every linkage of this chain. The result of this analysis shows us which one of linkage is more valuable than others or which one is in need of support. The bottler companies, larger industrial producers and some retailer shops in urban areas may have value added.

Evaluation of the ＂Harmony/Balance Value＂ on the Development of the Sensorial Quality of EVOOmExperiences in Germany and Europe

Since 2015 the methodology of the harmony value in the framework of the official organoleptic assessment has been accredited by the German authorities. It initiated additional background for this parameter which is set on top of the Official Paneltest （Standard IOC/T15/Reg. （EWG） 2568/91 in its actual version） which classifies Olive oil in the relevant classifications ＂extra virgin＂, ＂virgin＂ or ＂virgin lampante＂. This study will proof the possible accuracy of this additional parameter ＂harmony/balance＂ and the benefits which arise with this additional parameter for all stakeholders. The German Olive Oil Panel （DOP） is practicing this extended methodology for the sensory evaluation of extra virgin olive oil since 2003. In addition to the verification of the category ＂extra virgin＂ the Panel is continuously training for additional descriptors used to appraise the quality-discrimination for this category. But in case the panel decides for a valid median of a defect the panel supervisor （PSV） will set the harmony level to zero. In the focus is the additional attribute called ＂harmony＂ （in some world areas called ＂balance＂--both mean a quantification of the specific overall quality with one single parameter） which is responsible for this advancement in the methodological approach. Using ＂harmony/balance＂ （H/B） as a quality-factor, the discrimination between bad, average, good, very good and premium quality within the category of EVOO became possible. ＂Harmony＂ includes olfactory, tactile and kinesthetic stimuli and is evaluated on a bipolar 100 mm scale, which leads to this parameter from ＂average＂ in the center to ＂complex/harmonious＂ on one side or to ＂totally disharmonious＂ on the other side. In the study at hand we are able to prove the development of qualities in the framework of the accredited Panel in German speaking countries over more than 10 years. In this study the development of the increasing quality can be proved in yearly figures of the DOP. The trend could be disturbed however in case of climatological circumstances or orders from outside Germany with over proportional low qualities. The official organoleptic assessment method of IOC/EC separates defect free from defected olive oils and is marking the olive oils with a relevant label of classification （EV, V, Lampant）. The additional step to evaluate the harmony value----carried out by the same panel during the same procedure--is quantifying the category of EVOO in relevant quality sectors. This study shows on one side the progress of this method in German speaking countries and their supporting companies. On the other side it revealed the quality problems which arise in markets like the private label/low price （PL/LP） sections in other countries of the European Union. This important market segment covers today about 75%-80% of the market. The IGO study （2015） proved that from 70 samples out of 16 European countries 58.5% （41 samples） have been analyzed as defect; only 41.5% （29 samples） matched the classification EVOO. And from these 29 samples 18 have been evaluated with the additional parameter ＂harmony/balance＂ as ＂lower standard＂ or ＂not sufficient＂. The long experience with this additional parameter is able to stabilize and quantify the quality of EVOO in favor of all stakeholders.