Olive oil may prevent strokes in elderly, French Study

PARIS: Older people who use olive oil for cooking, in salad dressing or with bread may be doing much to protect themselves against stroke, according to the French Institute of Health and Medical Research.

The French study of three cities found seniors whose diet included a lot of olive oil had a 41% lower risk of stroke compared to those who had never consumed it. Researchers suggest their findings should prompt new dietary recommendations for the over 65s.

Researchers analyzed the medical records of 7,625 people aged 65 and older from the French cities who had no history of stroke. Participants were categorized based on their olive oil intake. Study participants mainly chose extra virgin olive oil, which is widely available in France. During slightly more than five years of follow-up, there were 148 strokes.