Extra Virgin Olive Oil Can Help Reduce Osteoporosis

The PREDIMED trial in Spain found consumption of extra virgin olive oil reduces the occurrence of osteoprosis by 51%. This is largely due to the polyphenol oleuropein. Osteoporosis is largely a disease caused by inflammation. Oleuropein works in three ways to reduce osteoporosis. 1) It works to inhibit enzymes that trigger inflammatory molecules (cytokines). 2) It works to reduce oxidative stress. 3) It stimulates bone forming osteoblasts rather than those that break down bone (osteoclasts). In this study only extra virgin olive oils with high polyphenol counts were found to protect against osteoporotic fractures.