INFORM October 2025

inform October 2025, Vol. 36 (9) • 25

venting or even treating heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death worldwide. TMAO has also been linked to aging, cognitive decline, and other brain disorders. A 2021 study provided direct evidence for the first time that repeated DMB ingestion, significantly impacted social dominance in adult mice without any effect on anxiety, depression-like behaviors, or memory formation (https://doi.org/10.1016/j. neulet.2021.136006). FUTURE DISEASE TREATMENT? From the existing literature we know that DMB is beneficial for health and should be investigated extensively. We may be facing the same situation that we encountered with phenols; however, where at first we did not know much about their beneficial characteristics and only learned about them through years of research and analysis. In vitro and in vivo studies have been conducted both in humans and animals to better understand the metabolism and bioactivity of olive oil phenolic compounds. Antioxidants from olive oil are not only absorbed by the body but can also bind to the mucosa of the digestive tract, contributing to its health benefits. Consumption of extra virgin olive oil through the diet is associated with the prevention of cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. This is associated with the balanced fatty acid composition, with the main component being oleic acid, as well as the presence of secondary compounds such as

polar phenols, tocopherols and sterols. These characteristics make olive oil a high-quality functional food. The method our team developed for the analysis of DMB in olive oil is reliable, safe, fast and can now be used by any laboratory. The next step in our study is to clarify how genetic variety, harvest conditions, and olive oil production dates affect DMB concentration values. Our team has established contacts and processes have already begun. Extensive studies and clinical trials will fol low very soon to investigate the role of the DMB component in olive oil and its mechanism of action, as well as how it can act protectively in various diseases. We are collaborating with Tassos Kyriakides, assistant professor at Yale University, in Greenwich, Connecticut, who will play a leading role in future research and clinical studies. When asked by a news outlet to comment on the signif icance of the recent study on the determination of DMB in Greek and Turkish olive oil samples, Gören stated that a new path has been opened for olive oil research. He said, “This study not only provides us with new information but also demonstrates that the richness of the olive tree is greater than we previously believed.” Apostolos Kiritsakis is an emeritus professor at the International Hellenic University in Thessaloniki Greece. He can be contacted at kyritsak@gmail.com.

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