Research Article -D ossier Open Access OLIVE OIL

Health effects of olive oil. Olive oils have a positive health image for consumers. Nevertheless, these oils are allowed to use few nutrition and health claims authorized by the European Commission. Examples include "high un- satured fat", "high vitamin E" or more advanced health claims as "Olive oil polyphenols contribute to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress" or "Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats in the diet contributes to the main- tenance of normal blood cholesterol levels". Others beneficial effects have been highlighted in the Mediterranean diet through health studies: improvement of cognitive functions (COGINUT project) or cardiovascular functions (PRED- IMED study) for instance, but without having related authorized claims. Further research is needed to understand the role of olive oil, and its fatty acids and polyphenols composition, in these functions.