Olive oil consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological studies have shown the preventive effects of olive oil consumption against cardiovascular events and all-cause deaths, but the results remain inconsistent. Herein, we performed a meta-analysis to elucidate this association.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematical literature search was conducted in online databases (PubMed and Scopus) through July 31, 2022. Prospective cohort studies providing the risk of total cardiovascular disease (CVD) or all-cause mortality for olive oil consumption were included. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were aggregated using random-effect model.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis included 13 studies comprising a total of 13 prospective cohorts. Compared with lower consumption, higher consumption of olive oil conferred a significantly reduced risk in CVD (RR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.77-0.93, < 0.001) and all-cause mortality (RR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.77-0.90, < 0.001). This beneficial effect was not modified by the potential confounders such as study country, sample size, follow-up duration, gender, and type of olive oil consumed. In dose-response meta-analysis, the summary RR of per 5-g/days increase in olive oil intake was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93-0.99, = 0.005) for CVD and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.95-0.96, < 0.001) for all-cause mortality. Non-linear associations of olive oil intake with CVD and all-cause mortality were also identified (both for non-linearity < 0.001), with little additional or no risk reduction observed beyond the consumption of approximately 20 g/days.

CONCLUSION

Olive oil consumption is inversely related to the risk of CVD and all-cause mortality. Such benefits seem to be obtained with an intake of olive oil up to 20 g/days, which deserves further exploration in future studies.