Dr N.Krimnianiotis coordinator of the international conference of the INTERREG MED European project “ARISTOIL”
An international conference aimed at promoting the health protective properties of Mediterranean olive oil bearing the health claim “Health Claim” was organized in the context of the European INTERREG MED project “ARISTOIL” on Monday 27 January at the A. Argyriadis amphitheatre of the University of Athens. The conference was organized by the European Organization for Territorial Cooperation “Euxini Poli”, in cooperation with the Regional Administration of Peloponnese and the Department of Pharmacognosy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, with the participation of distinguished professors and researchers from the international community.
The theme of the conference, which was held under the patronage of the President of the Greek Republic, was “Olive oil with Health claim (biofunctional food) – Results of recent clinical studies using olive oil rich in oleocanthal in the treatment of diseases”.
Γ. Pappous, S. Anastasopoulos, C. Kostantelos, K. Kenevezos, Dr. N. Krimnianiotis
The conference began with the greeting of the Mayor of Varis/Voula/Vouliagmeni and President of E.O.E.S. EFXINI POLI, Gregory Konstantellou, who presented the strategic objectives of the group regarding territorial cohesion between the regions of the network, the more than 100 national and European projects that have been implemented, as well as the axes of action of these programs. In particular, he said that the European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation are tools for the development of local communities that build partnerships and promote cohesion, while adding value and encouraging the transfer of technical expertise and the exchange of good practices.
Then, the coordinator of the conference and the ARISTOIL project, Dr. Nikos Krimnianiotis, presented the activities of the ARISTOIL project and the creation of the Mediterranean cluster of high phenolic olive oil producers.
Prokopis Mayatis, Professor of Pharmacy at EKPA, gave a summary of current studies on the beneficial effects of high phenolic olive oil and highlighted the first study worldwide on a prostate cancer patient with intravenous use of pure oleocanthal. Particular emphasis was given to the Greek olive oils that have already started to circulate in the pharmacy sector and especially to ATHENIAN olive oil, the first olive oil produced from the olive grove of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Professor Magda Tsolaki of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki presented the results of a study on 50 patients with mild cognitive dysfunction (early stage of Alzheimer’s disease) in which the high phenolic agourelaio of Halkidiki (Yannis) showed significant improvement in psychometric and biochemical tests after one year of daily consumption. It also for the first time showed the initial positive results from patients with multiple sclerosis by consuming high phenolic olive oil (Eliama).
Amal Kaddoumi, Professor at Auburn University (USA), presented the studies conducted in the USA with Greek olive oil in experimental animals and the study of the mechanism by which oleocanthal reduces levels of toxic amyloid in the brain. He also announced that for the first time, a study is being conducted in the US on thirty Alzheimer’s patients with Greek olive oil high in oleocanthal (The Governor).
Khalid El Sayed, Professor at the University of Louisiana (USA), presented very significant results from the action of the olive oil components oleocanthal and aglycolic ligstroside in the treatment of breast cancer and in safety studies on the use of the phenolic components of olive oil.
Andrea Paola Rojas, Professor at the University of Peloponnese, presented the impressive results from the use of Greek olive oil high in oleocanthal (The Governor) in 22 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia at a stage of the disease that did not require the initiation of chemotherapy. Six months after the start of the dietary intervention, white blood cell levels returned on average to their levels six months before the start of the study.
Professor Tzortzis Nomikos of Harokopio University presented the first results of the beneficial effect of the phenolic components of olive oil on platelet activation in diabetic patients and the start of the first study in diabetic patients on the prevention of thrombosis using olive oil with high oleocanthal content (LIVA)
Dr. Eleni Melliou, President of the World Olive Oil Centre for Health (WOCH), presented useful guidelines on how consumers can distinguish a high phenolic olive oil and how to use it properly in cooking. He also presented particularly important work of the non-profit organization WOCH in conducting clinical studies and international promotion of high phenolic olive oil producers through the OLYMPIA Health & Nutrition awards.
Finally, Dr. Nikos Krimnianiotis, coordinator of the conference and of the ARISTOIL project, developed the basic principles of the creation of the first European Cluster for Mediterranean olive oil rich in polyphenols, which will initially involve the 3,200 olive growers and millers, members of the Aristoil Family, from the 5 Euro-Mediterranean countries (Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy, Spain).
The special certification system that has been developed will ensure the reliability of the products in circulation, which will bear the Aristoil label.
Click here to see the presentations.
