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Background: Glu298Asp polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene (NOS3) has been characterized as a risk factor of hypertension and coronary artery disease. Previous studies suggest that the higher risk observed in T allele carriers is due to endothelial dysfunction associated with a lower eNOS activity and that acute consumption of phenol-rich olive oil ameliorates postprandial endothelial dysfunction by reducing oxidative stress and increasing nitric oxide bioavailability. Nevertheless, how these facts may interact in a population with altered endothelial function such as metabolic syndrome patients remains unknown., Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate whether the presence of NOS3 Glu298Asp polymorphism interacts with the phenol content of virgin olive oil (VOO) to influence postprandial endothelial function., Design: Fifty-seven subjects with metabolic syndrome received three breakfasts based on VOO with different phenolic content. Baseline, incremental area under the curve, peak, and maximum parameters of postocclusive skin reactive hyperemia (PORH) were evaluated by laser Doppler, and the nitrate/nitrite [NO((x))] and eNOS concentrations were obtained during fasting and postprandially., Results: A gene-diet interaction was found on maximum PORH and NO((x)) (P = 0.039 and P = 0.043, respectively). TT subjects showed lower values of eNOS, NO((x)), and maximum PORH as compared with GG and GT subjects, especially in the postprandial measurements (all P < 0.05). However, most of these differences were attenuated when high-phenol VOO was consumed., Conclusion: In a population with a compromised endothelial function, concentrations of phenols in dietary VOO interact with NOS3 Glu298Asp to ameliorate the endothelial dysfunction associated to the TT genotype.

Unlabelled: Interest in the Mediterranean diet (MD) has grown worldwide. Despite the high complexity of its nutrients composition, olive oil emerges as its principal food, since it provides the higher percentage of energy and a lot of bioactive compounds., Objective: In this review, we will discuss the benefits of diets enriched in virgin olive oil, whose effects are probably due not only to its oleic acid content but also to its other potentially health-promoting components., Methods: Traditionally, the benefits of MD were linked to its effect on lipoprotein metabolism, but today we realise that there exists a whole sheaf of other benefits, including the components of haemostasis: platelet function, thrombogenesis and fibrinolysis., Results: A diet enriched in virgin olive oil can reduce the sensitivity of platelets to aggregation, decreasing von Willebrand and thromboxane B2 plasma levels. Moreover, a particular interest has aroused about its capacity to decrease fasting factor VII plasma levels and to avoid or modulate its postprandial activation. In addition, tissue factor expression in mononuclear cells could be reduced with the chronic intake of virgin olive oil, and finally, studies performed in different experimental situation have shown that it could also increase fibrinolytic activity, reducing plasma concentration of plasma activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1)., Conclusion: The MD is an alimentary model with a high content of monounsaturated fats that is capable of inducing a wide range of biological effects on the cardiovascular system. The application of modern focuses of study will dilucidate in the future the biological and clinical interest of these findings.