The application of hydroxytyrosol in Elderly nutritional products

Hydroxytyrosol plays a significant role in cognitive function protection and chronic disease prevention in senior nutritional products, as detailed below:

I. Cognitive Function Protection

Mitochondrial Dysfunction Mitigation: Mitochondrial dysfunction is an early pathological feature of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. Hydroxytyrosol enhances mitochondrial activity: a study by the University of Padua, Italy, found that it significantly boosts ATP synthase expression in senescent cell models and increases the number of active mitochondria.

Mitochondrial Fusion Induction: By inducing mitochondrial fusion, hydroxytyrosol dilutes toxic superoxides and mutant mitochondrial DNA, strengthening mitochondrial function and slowing neural cell aging. This contributes positively to improving neurodegenerative diseases.

Neuroprotective Effects: Hydroxytyrosol reduces neural cell damage and improves cell viability. Ingestion of hydroxytyrosol helps enhance cognitive function, memory, and learning ability, preventing neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's and Parkinson's) and aiding the elderly in maintaining optimal cognitive status.

II. Chronic Disease Prevention

1. Cardiovascular Diseases

Hydroxytyrosol’s potent antioxidant capacity scavenges free radicals, reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, decreases lipid deposition in blood vessel walls, and prevents atherosclerosis.

It also dilates blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, improves cardiac function, and reduces platelet aggregation and thrombosis risk, thereby decreasing the incidence of heart disease and stroke.

2. Inflammation-Related Diseases

Hydroxytyrosol inhibits the release of inflammatory mediators (e.g., interleukin-1β [IL-1β], tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) and reduces cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, effectively alleviating inflammatory responses.

For common inflammatory diseases in the elderly (e.g., arthritis), hydroxytyrosol relieves joint pain and swelling and reduces oxidative stress-induced joint damage.

3. Diabetes

Hydroxytyrosol shows antidiabetic potential by regulating blood glucose and lipid levels, helping the elderly maintain glycemic stability, reducing diabetes risk, and alleviating symptoms. It also benefits the prevention and control of diabetes-related complications.