Consuming 25 grams of phenol-rich extra virgin olive oil increases the activity of genes involved in antioxidant defense in healthy adults within two hours.
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
When you eat phenol-rich olive oil, a compound called hydroxytyrosol enters your blood and flips a genetic switch that tells your cells to make more tools that destroy harmful molecules. This happens within two hours and is measured directly in human studies.
Most probable mechanism
After consuming phenol-rich olive oil, hydroxytyrosol enters the bloodstream and turns on a specific gene regulator that switches on the production of three key proteins that destroy harmful molecules in cells.
Hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and enter systemic circulation.
Hydroxytyrosol binds to and activates upstream transcription factor 1 in the nucleus of cells.
Activated upstream transcription factor 1 binds to antioxidant response elements in the DNA, increasing transcription of catalase and superoxide dismutase 1 genes.
New catalase and superoxide dismutase 1 proteins are synthesized, enhancing the cell's ability to neutralize reactive oxygen species.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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