Virgin olive oil, especially its phenol components, showed anti-inflammatory properties in mice with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in human immune cells, according to a new Spanish study. The findings suggest future use in SLE treatment.

The research, “Virgin olive oil and its phenol fraction modulate monocyte/macrophage functionality: a potential therapeutic strategy in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus,” was published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Increasing research has focused on the role of the innate immune system in SLE. In particular, monocytes and macrophages, two types of immune cells, are altered in patients with this disease, favoring a pro-inflammatory response.

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