At Olympia Health & Nutrition 2018, the results of the first clinical studies with Greek high phenolic olive oil were revealed.

The results showed improvement of the clinical picture of people suffering from serious illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and leukemia. The  first two clinical trials were performed using two Greek high phenolic olive oils, selected among thousands of samples from the University of Athens and the team of Professor Prokopios Magiatis.

These important revelations were made during the Olympia Health & Nutrition 2018 ceremony , which had 2.500 entries this year, more samples than any other olive oil competition in the world. The awards ceremony was organized for the third time by the University of Athens and the World Olive Center for Health (WOCH), a non-profit organization that aims to economically raise the entire olive and olive sector in Greece and internationally.  

In the first study carried out under the supervision of Professor  Magda Tsolakis in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Hakidiki early harvest EVOO- High phenolic olive oil – a  donation from Yanni’s Olive Grove  –  achieved to reduce symptoms in patients with mild cognitive decline ( precursor stage of Alzheimer ‘s disease ), much more than simple olive oil after consumption of 40 grams a day for one year.

This is the first time that the action of high phenolic olive oil in the protection of the central nervous system seems to be verified in humans after many extensive studies carried out in experimental animals at various universities around the world.

In the second study carried out under the supervision of Peloponnese University Professor Paola Rojas , olive oil extraordinarily rich in oleocanthal from Lianolia Corfu – donated by the Dafnis family, The Governor  –  was given for a period of three months to patients with chronic lymphoblastic leukemia and the impressive results showed a decrease in white blood cells and a specific death of cancer cells.

At the same time, the olive oil has also improved a number of biochemical markers without having any negative effect on patients. This is the first time that there are strong indications of the therapeutic properties of high oleocanthal olive oil in oncology patients and is considered to be a very important innovation of the Greek scientific community.

The E-LA-WON- rich phenolic-rich Olive Oil will participate in the Scientific Research on “Multiple Sclerosis ” by the University of Athens.

“We have very serious data on the healing properties of high-phenomenal olive oil. We need to continue in Greece and the US studies have begun “ stressed the president of the World Olive Center for Health Dr. Eleni Melliou.

At the same time, she emphasized the need to continue in Greece and the United States the studies that have begun and invited the hundreds of producers who attended to  support the funding of studies  through the non-profit organization, while announcing the establishment of special scholarships to support research.

The aim of the  World Olive Center for Health  (WOCH) is to provide certification for certified health oils, training of producers and targeted research to highlight the health and therapeutic properties of all olive products, with the ultimate aim of increasing their economic value

It started in 2016 at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia with 565 entries from 15 countries. In 2017 there were 800 entries and this year it was held with more than 2000 entries. This year was the largest international olive oil competition worldwide in terms of number of entries. The award ceremony took place in the framework of the European program INTERREG MED “ARISTOIL”, which includes Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Italy and Croatia.

by Elina Mammi