When we talk about the chemistry of olive oil, much of the attention goes to oleic acid and biophenols.
But olive oil contains many other naturally occurring minor compounds that scientists are studying—including one called squalene.
Research from the University of Jaén in Spain has examined whether squalene may influence immune cells involved in inflammation, wound healing and tissue repair.
The findings are interesting, but they're also early-stage research.
What Is Squalene?
Squalene is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon produced by plants, animals and humans.
It is also one of the components of the unsaponifiable fraction of virgin olive oil—the small portion of the oil containing compounds other than its primary triglycerides.
Virgin olive oils can contain substantial amounts of squalene, which has made the compound an interesting subject for researchers investigating some of olive oil's biological properties.
What Did Researchers Study?
Researchers from the University of Jaén and collaborating institutions investigated how squalene affected macrophages, immune cells that play an important role in inflammation and tissue repair.
Macrophages can behave differently during various stages of the healing process.
Some promote the inflammatory response needed early in healing, while others help resolve inflammation and support tissue repair.
A successful healing process requires the body to transition between these different responses.
Researchers wanted to know whether squalene could influence that process.
What Did They Find?
The laboratory study found that squalene affected inflammatory signaling in macrophages and appeared to encourage characteristics associated with the later, tissue-repair phase of the immune response.
Based on their findings, researchers suggested that squalene may potentially act as a mediator in tissue remodeling and repair.
In simpler terms, squalene appeared to influence immune cells in a way that could help the body move from inflammation toward repair.
That's an intriguing finding.
But there's an important limitation.
Does This Mean Olive Oil Heals Wounds?
No—not based on this research.
The study investigated cellular mechanisms under laboratory conditions.
It did not demonstrate that eating virgin olive oil will make wounds heal faster, nor did it show that applying olive oil to a wound improves healing.
Those would require different types of research, including human clinical trials.
What the study does provide is another clue about how an individual compound naturally present in virgin olive oil may interact with biological processes involved in inflammation and tissue repair.
Concentration May Matter
Researchers also found indications that the amount of squalene present could influence its effects.
That led the authors to recommend additional research examining different concentrations of squalene.
This is another reason it's important not to turn preliminary laboratory findings into broad health claims.
With biologically active compounds, more isn't necessarily better.
Understanding the amount, mechanism and conditions under which a compound produces an effect is an important part of determining whether laboratory findings eventually have practical applications.
Another Piece of Olive Oil's Chemistry
Studies like this are interesting because they demonstrate just how chemically complex virgin olive oil really is.
Olive oil isn't simply one beneficial compound.
Its primary component is fat, predominantly monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid. But virgin and extra virgin olive oils also retain numerous naturally occurring minor compounds from the olive fruit.
Biophenols receive considerable attention because of their antioxidant properties, but researchers continue to investigate other components—including squalene—to better understand their potential biological activity.
The Takeaway
Laboratory research suggests that squalene found in virgin olive oil may influence immune cells involved in inflammation and tissue repair.
Researchers observed changes in macrophage activity that could potentially support the transition from inflammation toward tissue repair.
That's scientifically interesting—but it's not the same as demonstrating that olive oil heals wounds in people.
More research, particularly human studies, would be necessary before conclusions like that could be made.
For now, squalene gives researchers another fascinating piece of the much larger puzzle surrounding the naturally occurring compounds found in virgin and extra virgin olive oil.
Research Source
Sánchez-Quesada C, López-Biedma A, Gaforio JJ. Squalene Stimulates a Key Innate Immune Cell to Foster Wound Healing and Tissue Repair. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2018;2018:9473094.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or replace individualized medical advice.
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