Preclinical study shows that extra virgin olive oil supports immune function and gut health in offspring, suggesting dietary benefits for maternal health.
Maternal diet influences offspring development, immune function, and intestinal health. This study investigates the effects of maternal supplementation with a key component of the Mediterranean Diet, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), on the immune health of offspring at the end of lactation. Lewis rat dams received either refined olive oil (ROO), EVOO, or water (REF) during gestation and lactation. Plasma immunoglobulin G2c (IgG2c) concentration was elevated in pups born to EVOO-supplemented mothers, indicating enhanced immune development. Histological analysis of the small intestine revealed more goblet cells in the EVOO group, indicating a potential positive effect on the intestinal barrier function. In vitro assays showed that EVOO metabolites did not display cytotoxicity and had improved barrier integrity under a stress stimulus. These findings suggest that maternal EVOO supplementation may have beneficial effects on immune and intestinal development and health in offspring.
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Zhan-Dai et al. (2025) studied this question.
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