Grace Leland

The Mediterranean diet has been shown to provide numerous health benefits, such as prevent aging, decrease blood pressure and cholesterol, and decrease the risk of various health-related diseases. Olive oil, a major component of the Mediterranean diet, can decrease adiposity and promote beta-oxidation. Soluble fiber has also been shown to prevent adiposity, inflammation, and aging. However, these two factors have not been studied in combination or in an aged population to study the effects. To explore the effect of olive oil and inulin on an aged population, forty 15-month-old mice were put on diet (Low-fat diet (Basal), High-fat soluble fiber diet (HFSL), High-fat soluble fiber + Inulin diet (HFSL+I), High-fat Olive oil diet (HFOO), and High-fat Olive oil + Inulin diet (HFOO+I)) for twelve weeks. Analysis determined no significant differences in body weights, food intake, or glucose tolerance between the dietary groups. Lipid composition analysis of epididymal white adipose tissues (eWAT) found a difference in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) with the HFOO and HFOO+I diet and the saturated fats in the HFSL and HFSL+I diet, but there was no significant difference between the inulin dietary groups. Cecum weights were significantly reduced for the inulin dietary groups. There also was no significant difference between the diets with gene expression of various aging and inflammatory markers. Further exploration is needed to determine the health benefits of a Mediterranean style of diet on an aged mouse population.