Munteanu Camelia, Kotova Polina, Schwartz Betty
Department of Plant Culture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
The Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The School of Nutritional Sciences, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 9190500, Israel.
Nutrients. 2025 Feb 3;17(3):570. doi: 10.3390/nu17030570.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction, resulting in hyperglycemia. Olive oil, a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, has attracted considerable attention due to its potential health benefits, including reducing the risk of developing T2DM. This literature review aims to critically examine and synthesize existing research regarding the impact of olive oil on the expression of genes relevant to T2DM. This paper also seeks to provide an immunological and genetic perspective on the signaling pathways of the main components of extra virgin olive oil. Key bioactive components of olive oil, such as oleic acid and phenolic compounds, were identified as modulators of insulin signaling. These compounds enhanced the insulin signaling pathway, improved lipid metabolism, and reduced oxidative stress by decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Additionally, they were shown to alleviate inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway and downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes. Furthermore, these bioactive compounds were observed to mitigate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by downregulating stress markers, thereby protecting beta cells from apoptosis and preserving their function. In summary, olive oil, particularly its bioactive constituents, has been demonstrated to enhance insulin sensitivity, protect beta cell function, and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress by modulating key genes involved in these processes. These findings underscore olive oil's therapeutic potential in managing T2DM. However, further research, including well-designed human clinical trials, is required to fully elucidate the role of olive oil in personalized nutrition strategies for the prevention and treatment of T2DM.
2型糖尿病（T2DM）是一种多因素代谢紊乱疾病，其特征为胰岛素抵抗和β细胞功能障碍，进而导致高血糖。橄榄油作为地中海饮食的基石，因其潜在的健康益处，包括降低患T2DM的风险，而备受关注。这篇文献综述旨在批判性地审视和综合现有关于橄榄油对与T2DM相关基因表达影响的研究。本文还试图从免疫学和遗传学角度探讨特级初榨橄榄油主要成分的信号通路。橄榄油的关键生物活性成分，如油酸和酚类化合物，被确定为胰岛素信号的调节剂。这些化合物增强了胰岛素信号通路，改善了脂质代谢，并通过减少活性氧（ROS）的产生降低了氧化应激。此外，它们还通过抑制NF-κB通路和下调促炎细胞因子及酶来减轻炎症。此外，观察到这些生物活性化合物通过下调应激标志物来减轻内质网（ER）应激，从而保护β细胞免于凋亡并维持其功能。总之，橄榄油，尤其是其生物活性成分，已被证明可通过调节参与这些过程的关键基因来增强胰岛素敏感性、保护β细胞功能并减少炎症和氧化应激。这些发现强调了橄榄油在管理T2DM方面的治疗潜力。然而，需要进一步的研究，包括精心设计的人体临床试验，以充分阐明橄榄油在预防和治疗T2DM的个性化营养策略中的作用。
