OLIVE OIL: MATERNAL AND PEDIATRIC HEALTH

The new representation of the Mediterranean Diet (MD) pyramid includes as a base of the pyramid a balanced lifestyle, cooking methods, traditional, local and eco-friendly products, conviviality, physical activity with adequate rest, together to caloric restriction and frugality.. Moreover, it confirms that the principal source of fat must be Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO Therefore, the EVOO is considered a key feature of the healthy properties of MD due to its composition in fatty acids, vitamins and polyphenols. However, these must be bioavailable to allow EVOO to exert its nutraceutical properties, which include: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antimicrobial and antiviral, hypoglycemic properties, and protective effects for heart, brain, during pregnancy and breast feeding. The main phenolic components responsible for EVOO nutraceutical properties are hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, and oleuropein. The oil production and extraction technologies, such as extraction at low oxidative stress ) determine the final content of polyphenols in virgin olive oil. Limited information on the epigenetic effects of olive polyphenols are presently available, however well documented epigenetic effects are reported for many other plant polyphenols. With this regard, it has been found that, if mothers consumed an adequate amount of olive oil during pregnancy, their kids are exposed to a lower risk of wheezing in their first period of life. In addition, EVOO, for its content of oleochantal, a natural anti-inflammatory substance, may have effect on many inflammatory diseases, also in the early period of life.