Is olive oil good for you ?

What is olive oil

The Olive tree (Olea europaea L.), a native of the Mediterranean basin and parts of Asia. According to estimates, the cultivation of olive tree dates back more than 7000 years. The tree is typically distributed in the the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin, the adjoining coastal areas of southeastern Europe, western Asia and northern Africa as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea. Although olive is now cultivated in several parts of the world, the Mediterranean region still serves as the major production area accounting for about 98% of the world’s olive cultivation ¹⁾. The tree, famous for its fruit, also called the olive, is commercially important in the Mediterranean region as a prime source of olive oil ²⁾.

Olive oil is a liquid fat obtained from olives (the fruit of Olea europaea; family Oleaceae), a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin ³⁾. The oil is produced by pressing whole olives. It is commonly used in cooking, whether for frying or as a salad dressing. It is also used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps, and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps. It is associated with the “Mediterranean diet” for its possible health benefits ⁴⁾. The olive is one of three core food plants in Mediterranean cuisine; the other two are wheat and grapes.

Table 1. World wide major production and consumption of olive oil

[Source ⁵⁾]

The composition of olive oil varies with the cultivar, altitude, time of harvest and extraction process. It consists mainly of oleic acid (up to 83%), with smaller amounts of other fatty acids including linoleic acid (up to 21%) and palmitic acid (up to 20%). Extra-virgin olive oil is required to have no more than 0.8% free acidity and is considered to have favorable flavor characteristics; it forms as much as 80% of total production in Greece and 65% in Italy, but far less in other countries.

There are many different olive varieties or olives, each with a particular flavor, texture, and shelf life that make them more or less suitable for different applications such as direct human consumption on bread or in salads, indirect consumption in domestic cooking or catering, or industrial uses such as animal feed or engineering applications.

Olive varieties include Arbequina, Barnea, Coratina, Corregiola, Frantoio, Kalamata, Koroneiki, Leccino, Manzanillo, Pendolino and Picual. About 90 per cent of Australian olive oil is produced from 10 of these major varietals. Trained tasters can identify a variety by its trademark characteristics; oil from Picual olives (originally from Spain), for example, has peppery, bitter and slightly woody flavors.

Table 2. Some important properties of popular cultivars, their utilization and origin

Cultivar	%Oil yield	Ratio flesh to pit	Olive size (Fruits/kg)	Purpose	Shape of the fruits	Origin
Hojiblanca	23–29	4.9 and 6.6:1	230–700	Oil extraction and table olives	Regular	Spain
Verdial	22–30	6:1	220–800	Oil extraction and table olives	Ellipsoidal	Spain
Picual	23–27	3.8 and 6.1:1	270–470	Oil extraction and table olives	Prominent tip at the button end	Spain
Domat	22	–	180–190	Green table olive	Regular	Turkey
Gemlik	27	6:1	270–280	Black table olives	Pronounced tip at the end	Turkey
Memecik	22	6:1	205–215	Oil extraction	Pronounced tip at the end	Turkey
Memeli	25	7 : 1	200–210	Green-type table olives	Small tip at the end	Turkey
Conservolea	22–25	8:1	180–200	Table olive	Round to oval	Greece
Nychati Kalamon	25	8:1	220–240	Black table olive	Cylindro-conical, Curved	Greece
Chalkidiki	19	–	120–140	Green table olive, oil extraction	Pronounced tip at the end	Greece
Sevillano	14	7.3:1	70–80	Table olive	–	Spain
Ascolano	19	8.2:1	110–120	Table olive	–	Italy
Ascolana	17	–	100–180	Table olive	Spherica	Italy
Barouni	17	6.8:1	130–140	Green & black – ripe olives	–	Tunisia
Picholine marocaine	17	5:1	300–500	Table olive	–	Morocco
Arauco	22–24	7:1	125–300	Table olive and oil extraction	Pronounced tip	Argentina
Galega vulga	–	4:1	430	Black table olive	–	Portugal
Oblitza	22	6.5:1	200	Table olive	Apple and heart shape	Yugoslavia
Ladoelia	18–21	4.6:1	330	Table olive	–	Cyprus

[Source ⁶⁾]

An important issue often not realized in countries that do not produce olive oil is that the freshness makes a big difference. A very fresh oil, as available in an oil producing region, tastes noticeably different from the older oils available elsewhere ⁷⁾. In time, olive oils deteriorate and become stale. One-year-old olive oil may be still pleasant to the taste, but it is less fragrant than fresh olive oil. After the first year, olive oil should be used for cooking, not for foods to be eaten cold, like salads.

The taste of the olive oil is influenced by the varietals used to produce the oil and by the moment when the olives are harvested and ground (less ripe olives give more bitter and spicy flavors – riper olives give a sweeter sensation in the oil).

Broadly speaking:

• “Early harvest” oils tend to be “robust” (bitter and pungent), with greener characters (such as grassy aromas, green apple aromas, green tomato, etc).
• “Late harvest” oils tend towards “mild and mellow” or “delicate and mild”, with sweeter characters (such as ripe banana aromas, tropical fruit, vanilla, etc.).

But other factors, such as variety and environment, can influence the character of the oils. Consequently, an early harvest Arbequina oil from a warm climate can be milder and mellower than a late harvest Coratina from a colder climate.

Here is a quick summary of olive oil grades

• “Virgin” oil is extracted from olives by a mechanical process cold pressed (or squeezed) from fresh olives without excessive heat, additives or solvents ⁸⁾.

• Extra virgin olive oil, in addition to the above, has low acidity (0.8 per cent or less) and should comply with other technical specifications, as well as being free from taste defects.

• “Light”, “lite” or “pure” olive oils have been refined through a combination of physical (heat) and chemical processes they are subjected to, including gum extraction, neutralization, decolourisation, and heat treatments, resulting in an oil with no distinctive aroma, color or taste. A small percentage of virgin oil is then mixed with this oil to give it flavor. Refining removes antioxidants, so these oils aren’t as healthy as extra virgin. They don’t have less fat or fewer kilojoules than regular oils.

• “Cold pressed” and “first press” are outdated and unhelpful marketing terms. All virgin oils have to be “cold extracted” – extracted from the olive without the use of excessive heat (manufacturers can extract more oil from olives with heat but the quality suffers). Traditional hydraulic presses have been almost entirely replaced by centrifuges, and all virgin oil comes from a single extraction – there’s no second press.

Olive oils alone, are blends of mostly refined oil with a splash extra virgin olive oil. Refined oils are those that have been subject to chemical processing. Refined olive oils are often labeled “Pure”, “Extra Light” or “Light” which are simply marketing terms and not related to the quality or content of the oil.

Choosing the best olive oil

• An olive oil’s aromas and flavors are at their peak when it’s young. According to the Australian Olive Association, most extra virgin olive oils retain freshness for at least 12 months if stored properly in sealed bottles in a cool, dark place. Unlike wine, olive oil does not improve with age – so the closer to its production you use it, the better. Unfortunately, current labelling requirements don’t help in choosing the freshest oils. Most brands give only a general best-before date, if at all.

• The International Olive Council suggests a best-before date indicating the “minimum durability” of the oil, although how the date is calculated is at the discretion of the producer or importer.

• Date of bottling, harvest or production would be more helpful for consumers, but not necessarily feasible or precise, according to industry, as oil may be a blend from different years and held in a tank for an extended time before bottling.

In the meantime, we suggest you choose oils with a best-before date at least 12 months away, and avoid purchasing oils that are displayed under direct sunlight or in an overly warm environment.

Free fatty acids (FFA) and acidity

The “acidity” in olive oil is the result of the degree of breakdown of the triacylglycerols, due to a chemical reaction called hydrolysis or lipolysis, in which free fatty acids are formed ⁹⁾. In exceptional circumstances, even oils made from fresh, healthy olives can have significant amounts of acidity, caused by anomalies during the actual biosynthesis of the oil in the olive fruit. Oil extracted carelessly and/or from poor quality fruit suffers from a very significant breakdown of the triacylglycerides into fatty acids. These “broken off” fatty acids are called Free Fatty Acids ¹⁰⁾. Sometimes just one of the three fatty acids breaks off, leaving a diacylglycerol. If two fatty acids break off, we are left with a monoacylglycerol. If all three break off, were are left with glycerol.

Factors which lead to a high free fatty acidity in an oil include fruit fly infestation, delays between harvesting and extraction (especially if the fruit has been bruised or damaged during harvesting), fungal diseases in the fruit (gloesporium, macrophoma, etc.), prolonged contact between oil and vegetation water (after extraction), and careless extraction methods ¹¹⁾. Storing olives in heaps or silos to encourage enzymatic breakdown of cell structure, and thus facilitate oil release (as is the tradition in Portugal and other countries) is certainly not conducive to producing a high quality, low acidity oil ¹²⁾.

The free fatty acidity is thus a direct measure of the quality of the oil, and reflects the care taken right from blossoming and fruit set to the eventual sale and consumption of the oil ¹³⁾.

Measurement of free fatty acidity is a very simple procedure which can be done at a testing lab. The results are presented as grams of oleic acid per 100 grams oil, commonly known as the free fatty acidity of the oil in percent ¹⁴⁾. Freshly pressed olive oil, made carefully, without the use of excessive heat, from sound, healthy, freshly picked olives, normally has a pretty low “acidity”, well under 0.5% FFA. Extra virgin olive oils have less than 0.8% FFA ¹⁵⁾.

Olive oil nutrition

One tablespoon of olive oil (15 ml) contains the following nutritional information according to the USDA ¹⁶⁾:

• Calories: 120
• Fat: 13.30 g (21% of the Daily Value, DV)
• Saturated fat: 2 g (9% of DV)
• Carbohydrates: 0
• Fibers: 0
• Protein: 0
• Vitamin E: 1.9 mg (10% of DV)
• Vitamin K: 8.1 µg (10% of DV)

Table 3. Olive oil nutrition facts

[Source: United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service ¹⁷⁾]

Table 4. Extra-virgin olive oil nutrition facts

[Source: United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service ¹⁸⁾]

Olive Oil Chemical Characteristics

Olive oil is composed mainly of triacylglycerols (triglycerides or fats) and contains small quantities of free fatty acids (FFA), glycerol, phosphatides, pigments, flavor compounds, sterols, and microscopic bits of olive ¹⁹⁾. Triacylglycerols are the major energy reserve for plants and animals. Chemically speaking, these are molecules derived from the natural esterification of three fatty acid molecules with a glycerol molecule.

The fatty acid composition of olive oil varies widely depending on the cultivar, maturity of the fruit, altitude, climate, and several other factors.

The major fatty acids in olive oil triacylglycerols are:

• Oleic Acid (C18:1), a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. It makes up 55 to 83% of olive oil.
• Linoleic Acid (C18:2), a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid (an essential fatty acid) that makes up about 3.5 to 21% of olive oil.
• Palmitic Acid (C16:0), a saturated fatty acid that makes up 7.5 to 20% of olive oil.
• Stearic Acid (C18:0), a saturated fatty acid that makes up 0.5 to 5% of olive oil.
• Linolenic Acid (C18:3) (specifically alpha-Linolenic Acid), a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid (an essential fatty acid) that makes up 0 to 1.5% of olive oil.

The principal component of olive oil is always the oleic acid, contributing about 55–83% of the total fatty acids. Some parameters such as the area of production, the latitude, the climate, the variety, and the stage of maturity of the fruit greatly affect the fatty acid composition of olive oil. For example, varieties of olive oil from Greece, Italy, and Spain are low in linoleic and palmitic acids but they have a high percentage of oleic acid, while the Tunisian olive oil is high in linoleic and palmitic acids and low in oleic acid ²⁰⁾.

Olive oil contains more oleic acid and less linoleic and linolenic acids than other vegetable oils, that is, more monounsaturated than polyunsaturated fatty acids. This renders olive oil more resistant to oxidation because generally, the greater the number of double bonds in the fatty acid, the more unstable and easily broken down by heat, light, and other factors the oil is. It is generally accepted that cooler regions (e.g. Tuscany) will yield oil with higher oleic acid than warmer climates. That is, a cool region olive oil may be more monounsaturated in content than a warm region oil.

From a medical point of view essential fatty acid refers to all the omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids. Essential fatty acids are the ones that the human body cannot make. There are only two, which are the building blocks from which many of the other omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are made in a healthy body: linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

Percentage of Linolenic Acid Allowed in Olive Oil

Regarding the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), there is a wide range acceptable for extra virgin olive oil, however the linolenic acid has to be less than 0.9% per the International Olive Oil Council guidelines ²¹⁾. Higher levels, e.g. 1.5%, do not present a nutritional problem, but the International Olive Oil Council uses the linolenic acid level to establish the authenticity of the olive oil. Seed oils like canola oil have higher levels of linolenic acid.

Table 5. Olive oil composition

Fatty acid	Percentage	ref.
Oleic acid	55 to 83%	22), 23)
Linoleic acid	3.5 to 21%	24), 25)
Palmitic acid	7.5 to 20%	26)
Stearic acid	0.5 to 5%	27)
α-Linolenic acid	0 to 1.5%	28)

Note: Olive oil is composed mainly of the mixed triglyceride esters of oleic acid and palmitic acid and of other fatty acids, along with traces of squalene (up to 0.7%) and sterols (about 0.2% phytosterol and tocosterols). The composition varies by cultivar, region, altitude, time of harvest, and extraction process.

Figure 1. Chemical structure of important bioactives in olive/olive oil

[Source ²⁹⁾]

Figure 2. Chemical structural of some important phytosterols in olive oil

[Source ³⁰⁾]

What are Monounsaturated Fatty Acids

Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) are chemically classified as fatty acids containing a single double bond (in contrast to polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) containing two or more double bonds and saturated fatty acids (SFA) without double bonds) ³¹⁾. In the cis-configuration, the hydrogen atoms are on the same side as the double bond, whereas in trans-configuration the hydrogen atoms and the double bond are present on opposite sides. The cis-isomers are the predominant form of MUFA in food sources. The most common cis-configured MUFA in daily nutrition is oleic acid (18:1 n-9), followed by palmitoleic acid (16:1 n-7), and vaccenic acid (18:1 n-7). Moreover, oleic acid represents the topmost MUFA provided in the diet (~90% of all MUFAs) ³²⁾.

Figure 3. Monounsaturated Fatty Acids Structure (MUFA)

Figure 4. Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Structure

Figure 5. Saturated Fatty Acids Structure

Note: Saturated fatty acids (SFA) without double bonds

Table 6. Selected monounsaturated fatty acids

C-Atoms: Double Bonds	Scientific Name of Acid	Molecular Formula	Chemical Name
11:1	Undecylenic	C10H19COOH	cis-10-undecenoic acid
14:1	Myristoleic	C13H25COOH	cis-9-tetradecenoic acid
16:1	Palmitoleic	C15H29COOH	cis-9-hexadecenoic acid
16:1	Palmitelaidic	C15H29COOH	trans-9-hexadecenoic acid
16:1	/	C15H29COOH	cis-7-hexadecenoic
18:1	Petroselinic	C17H33COOH	cis-6-octadecenoic acid
18:1	Oleic	C17H33COOH	cis-9-octadecenoic acid
18:1	Elaidic	C17H33COOH	trans-9-octadecenoic acid
18:1	Vaccenic	C17H33COOH	cis-11-octadecenoic acid
20:1	Gondoleic	C19H37COOH	cis-9-eicosenoic acid
20:1	Gondolic	C19H37COOH	cis-11-eicosenoic acid
22:1	Cetoleic	C21H41COOH	cis-11-docosenoic acid
22:1	Erucic	C21H41COOH	cis-13-docosenoic acid
24:1	Nervonic	C23H45COOH	cis-15-tetracosaenoic acid

[Source ³³⁾]

General Nutrition Guidelines on Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA)

Based upon 13 peer-reviewed background papers dealing with fats and fatty acids in human nutrition, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation Committee concluded that replacement of carbohydrates by MUFA beneficially increases HDL-cholesterol, while the substitution of SFA with MUFA exerts favorable effects on LDL-cholesterol and the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol ³⁴⁾. In their position on dietary fatty acids of 2007, the American and Canadian Dietetic Association suggested a high maximum quota of MUFA, i.e., <25% of total energy content ³⁵⁾. Less than 20% of total energy content should be consumed in the form of MUFA as recommended by the American Heart Association in 2006, which is interesting with respect to the fact that the corresponding value was only <15% in the year 2000-statement ³⁶⁾ of the American Heart Association ³⁷⁾. The National Cholesterol Education Program III suggested that <20% of total energy content should be consumed in the form of MUFA ³⁸⁾. In their Dietary Guidelines for Americans, edition 2015-2020, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) gives no specific recommendations for MUFA ³⁹⁾. In addition, the National Institute of Medicine did not mention any specific recommendations for MUFA ⁴⁰⁾. In their statement, they concluded that “n-9 cis Monounsaturated fatty acids are synthesized by the body and have no known independent beneficial role in human health and are not required in the diet.” Therefore, neither an Adequate Intake nor a Recommended Daily Allowance was set. Since there is insufficient evidence for an Upper Level as well, the Dietary Reference Intakes did not consider MUFA at all ⁴¹⁾. In accordance with these proceedings and with a similar rationale, the European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) skipped MUFA in their scientific opinions on dietary reference values for fat ⁴²⁾. On a national level, the recommendations given in European countries are far from being conclusive. The Italian Society of Human Nutrition did not list any specific references for MUFA ⁴³⁾. The Joint Committees of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland stated that MUFA consumption should be 10% of TEC, albeit with higher intakes being acceptable ⁴⁴⁾. The Nordic Nutrition Recommendations agreed on 10%–15% of total energy content in the form of MUFA ⁴⁵⁾. The particulars of the Dutch Dietary Guidelines proposed a limit of 38% of total energy content in the form of MUFA and PUFA for people with optimal body weight, whereas overweight and obese people should be more restrictive and limit their daily energy uptake in the form of MUFA/PUFA to 28% ⁴⁶⁾. The UK COMA Committee advocated that MUFA (in the form of oleic acid) should provide an average of 12% of total energy content ⁴⁷⁾. The Nutritional Recommendations for the French Population promoted an intake of MUFA up to 20% of total energy content for adults including pregnant and lactating women. It was emphasized that the neutrality of oleic acid represents a benefit and that its consumption was justified ⁴⁸⁾.

Table 7. National and international MUFA recommendations for healthy adults and patients with diabetes

[Source ⁴⁹⁾]

Benefits of olive oil

The main type of fat found in all kinds of olive oil is monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). Monounsaturated fatty acids are considered a healthy dietary fat ⁵⁰⁾. Olive oil consumption is thought to affect cardiovascular health ⁵¹⁾. If you replace saturated and trans fats with unsaturated fats, such as monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), you may gain certain health benefits. In this meta-analysis ⁵²⁾, comparison of the top versus the bottom third of combined MUFA subgroups (MUFA, olive oil, oleic acid, and MUFA:Saturated Fatty Acid) was associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality (11%), cardiovascular mortality (12%), combined cardiovascular events (9%), and stroke (17%). Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) may help lower your risk of heart disease by improving related risk factors. For instance, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) have been found to lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. Even healthier fats like olive oil are high in calories, so use them in moderation.

Epidemiological studies indicate that a higher proportion of monounsaturated fats in the diet may be linked with a reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease ⁵³⁾. There is preliminary evidence that regular consumption of olive oil may lower risk of all-cause mortality and several chronic diseases ⁵⁴⁾, ⁵⁵⁾.

In addition, some research shows that MUFAs may benefit insulin levels and blood sugar control, which can be helpful if you have or are at risk of type 2 diabetes ⁵⁶⁾, ⁵⁷⁾, ⁵⁸⁾, ⁵⁹⁾.

In a comprehensive scientific review by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2011, health claims on olive oil were approved for protection by its polyphenols against oxidation of blood lipids ⁶⁰⁾ and for the contribution to the maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol levels by replacing saturated fats in the diet with oleic acid ⁶¹⁾ (Commission Regulation (EU) 432/2012 of 16 May 2012) ⁶²⁾. A cause-and-effect relationship has not been adequately established for consumption of olive oil and maintaining normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides, normal blood HDL-cholesterol concentrations, and normal blood glucose concentrations ⁶³⁾.

A 2011 meta-analysis concluded that olive oil consumption may play a protective role against the development of any type of cancer, but could not clarify whether the beneficial effect is due to olive oil monounsaturated fatty acid content or its polyphenol components ⁶⁴⁾.

A 2014 meta-analysis concluded that an elevated consumption of olive oil is associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events and stroke, while monounsaturated fatty acids of mixed animal and plant origin showed no significant effects ⁶⁵⁾.

In the United States, producers of olive oil may place the following restricted health claim on product labels:

“Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about 2 tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the monounsaturated fat in olive oil. To achieve this possible benefit, olive oil is to replace a similar amount of saturated fat and not increase the total number of calories you eat in a day. One serving of this product contains [x] grams of olive oil” ⁶⁶⁾.

Similar labels are permitted for canola oil: “Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about 1 ½ tablespoons (19 grams) of canola oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the unsaturated fat content in canola oil.  To achieve this possible benefit, canola oil is to replace a similar amount of saturated fat and not increase the total number of calories you eat in a day. One serving of this product contains [x] grams of canola oil” ⁶⁷⁾ and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids: “Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One serving of [Name of the food] provides [ ] gram of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. [See nutrition information for total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol content.]”  ⁶⁸⁾ and hemp seed oil ⁶⁹⁾.

Olive oil for skin care

Olive oil has a long history of being used as a home remedy for skincare. Egyptians used it alongside beeswax as a cleanser, moisturizer, and antibacterial agent since pharaonic times ⁷⁰⁾. In ancient Greece, olive oil was used during massage, to prevent sports injuries, relieve muscle fatigue, and eliminate lactic acid buildup. In 2000, Japan was the top importer of olive oil in Asia (13,000 tons annually) because consumers there believe both the ingestion and topical application of olive oil to be good for skin and health ⁷¹⁾.

Olive oil is popular for use in massaging infants and toddlers, but scientific evidence of its efficacy is mixed. One analysis of olive oil versus mineral oil found that, when used for infant massage, olive oil can be considered a safe alternative to sunflower, grapeseed and fractionated coconut oils. This stands true particularly when it is mixed with a lighter oil like sunflower, which “would have the further effect of reducing the already low levels of free fatty acids present in olive oil” ⁷²⁾. Another trial stated that olive oil lowered the risk of dermatitis for infants in all gestational stages when compared with emollient cream ⁷³⁾. However, another study ⁷⁴⁾ involving one-hundred and fifteen healthy, full-term neonates with a family history of atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) were randomly assigned to olive oil, sunflower oil or no oil, twice daily for 4 weeks. Some research has suggested that there is a potential for development of atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) if topical products with adverse effects on skin barrier function are used for the prevention or treatment of baby dry skin ⁷⁵⁾, ⁷⁶⁾. The results of that study showed there were no significant differences in trans-epidermal water loss, pH or erythema/skin scores ⁷⁷⁾. The sunflower oil was found to have a similar effect on skin barrier function to olive oil. Moreover, the findings of that study ⁷⁸⁾ suggest that using olive oil or sunflower oil may have the potential to damage the skin barrier function of neonatal skin. This could consequently increase the development of atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis). Another study on adults found that topical treatment with olive oil “significantly damages the skin barrier” when compared to sunflower oil, and that it may make existing atopic dermatitis worse. The researchers concluded that due to the negative outcome in adults, they do not recommend the use of olive oil for the treatment of dry skin and infant massage ⁷⁹⁾.

Applying olive oil to the skin does not help prevent or reduce stretch marks ⁸⁰⁾.

This double-blind randomized clinical trial study on the effect of topical olive oil on the healing of foot ulcer in patients with type 2 diabetes ⁸¹⁾ indicated that olive oil in combination with routine cares is more effective than routine cares alone. Olive oil significantly decreased ulcer area and depth compared with control group who just received routine cares. Complete ulcer healing in the intervention group was significantly greater than control group at the end of follow up. Also, there were no adverse effects to report during the study in intervention group.