Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) Components: Interaction with Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Focusing on Cancer and Skeletal Muscle Biology

The advantages of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) intake as part of a varied, healthy and balanced diet were demonstrated by many epidemiological studies. In particular, several components present in EVOO, such as tocopherols, carotenoids and phenolic compounds, play an important protective role in mitigating inflammatory diseases, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. The protective effect exerted by EVOO was proposed to be accounted for by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory or anti-proliferative properties. The present review will focus on the interactions among EVOO’s components and pro-inflammatory cytokines, aiming to reveal the mechanisms potentially involved in the anticancer action of EVOO. Cancer patients very frequently develop a devastating syndrome known as cachexia, which negatively impinges on their outcome. The main features of cachexia include progressive body weight loss, fat and muscle wasting, and dysmetabolism, all of which partially result from the onset of systemic inflammation. In this regard, the possibility that EVOO could be beneficial to cancer patients by mitigating cachexia will be reviewed, focusing on the skeletal muscle.