Olive oil is “liquid gold”, and not for its… price but probably for our health. A new collaboration to investigate the role of the DMB substance recently identified in olive oil, and especially the way it acts against inflammation, heart and neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s), in the human body was started a few days ago by the assistant professor of the School of Public Health at Yale University (Yale – USA) Tassos Kyriakidis and the scientific team of Apost. Kyritsaki- Nik. Sakellaropoulou.

The title of the new research effort is “DMB, Gut Microbiota and Heart Health” and its dominant theme is the role of DMB (3,3 Dimethyl – 1-butanol – 3,3 dimethyl-1-butanol), derived from extra virgin olive oil, in inhibiting the production of trimethylamine (TMA) and of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) by the intestinal microbiome.

This is the first organized scientific effort focused on this new compound (DMB) which was identified with an innovative method and in collaboration with the group of Apostolos Kyritsakis at the University of Istanbul at the end of last June, opening new ways to study its role as well as other bioactive – beneficial components of olive oil in human health.

Until now, no method had been published to determine the concentrations of this substance in extra virgin olive oil in a laboratory and safely. As the participants in the original study note, “it is the first time that the presence of the component DMB in olive oil has been confirmed in a laboratory, based on a reliable scientific method, and its values ​​have been determined with impressive results.”

At the end of last June 2025, the international scientific team, led by the professor emeritus of the International University of Greece and honorary member of the American Association of Chemical Oils (AOCS Fellow – USA) Mr. Apostolos Kyritsakis, published in the international, scientific and prestigious Journal of Food Bioactives the impressive results of the pioneering study, under general title “Quantification of 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol (DMB) in olive oil: a rapid and novel method”.

At the same time, this research gave a definitive answer to the basic question of the global olive oil scientific community: “if DMB really exists in olive oil”.

DMB olive oil, vs. trimethylamine

Based on the publication, the well-known magazine INFORM of the American Oil Chemicals Association (AOCS), in its October 2025 issue in a special article entitled “Scientists study a valuable ingredient in olive oil”, makes a special and extensive reference to the compound DMB and its role in human health. “In animal models, the trimethylamine enzyme (s.p. the one that DMB opposes) creates a compound in the liver that appears to facilitate the accumulation of fat and cholesterol in the arteries,” INFORM notes among others.

The magazine makes special reference to the scientific team that identified this ingredient led by the professor emeritus of DIPAE Apostolos Kyritsakis, to professor Ahmet Ceyhan Goren of the University of Istanbul, to the professor of the School of Public Health at Yale University Mr. Tassos Kyriakides as well as to the contribution and the pivotal role of the Sakellaropoulos olive groves in this discovery.

“When scientists, a few decades ago, began to deal with the miraculous content of the olive and olive oil, they focused on the bioactive phenols (oleocanthal, hydroxytyrosol, etc.),” ​​Yale Public Health professor Tassos Kyriakidis, who is an active and important member of the new study, tells APE-MPE. DMB added “it’s a completely new ingredient. It is an alcohol which appears to be an innovative substance with health protective value. In addition to the phenols in the olive, which in 1978 was the first to determine their change with the progress of olive fruit ripening by the emeritus professor Mr. Apostolos Kyritsakis, there is also DMB and there are probably other compounds that we do not know yet, and which probably have a cooperative effect on the olive oil and give it a special value”.

The research so far shows that DMB has a positive effect against the harmful compounds of trimethylamine (Trimethylamine, TMA) and trimethylamine oxide (Trimethylamine oxide, TMAO) related to the induction of atherosclerosis, the appearance of inflammation in various cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, the harmful substance TMAO is a gut microbiota-dependent metabolite associated with inflammatory diseases, whose immune processes mirror those of rheumatoid arthritis.

“The first goal of the laboratory research,” says Mr. Kyriakidis, “is to examine how DMB affects certain cell lines and the course of cardiovascular and other inflammation-related diseases. We will start with the cells found in the intestinal microbiome to ascertain to what extent DMB positively affects the microbiome and prevents the creation of the unwanted substance TMA, as its inhibitor. Essentially there will be a scientific screening of the cell lines to see which ones will benefit from DMB and then clinical studies will follow.”

“DNB affects inflammation, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases”

The Yale professor describes the substance DMB as very important. He believes “that it affects inflammation and consequently cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. “Personally, I believe that there is a serious possibility of an effect of the health-protective substance DMB on immune problems as well, because inflammations are also related to the immune system,” he tells APE-MPE. “For this we will ‘screen’ bacteria in the intestinal microbiome because each bacterium has a specific mission. If we find the targets of the bacteria, the picture will become clearer and there will be corresponding scientific announcements.”

“From what we have understood to date, DMB does not affect only one “portion” of diseases, but many and different ones…” underlined Mr. Kyriakidis.

The next researches and studies are going to focus on the multivarietal Plus Health DMB EVOO olive oil of the organic olive groves of Sakellaropoulos and in which the highest concentrations of the substance DMB were detected.

From the specific olive groves of Sparta come the samples of extra virgin olive oils with the highest concentrations, among all those analyzed in the laboratory during the discovery of the DMB determination method.

“Scientific research on the benefits of our olive products, in collaboration with university institutions and researchers, is at the core of the Sakellaropoulos organic olive groves,” said the production manager and chemical engineer M.Sc. Nikos Sakellaropoulos. “Having participated in the group of scientists from many countries which, led by DIPAE professor emeritus Apostolos Kyritsakis, published for the first time the new and innovative method of measuring the substance DMB in olive oil, we are starting this collaboration with the aim of highlighting the benefits of this bioactive substance in human health”.

“We have already signed a Memorandum of Cooperation for this new research and study. This collaboration, with Mr. Kyriakides of the Yale School of Public Health, and Professor Emeritus of the International University of Greece Mr. Kyritsakis is based on the fact that in the original publication our olive oils showed systematically high concentrations of DMB. It is a special honor for us to participate in this type of research, the results of which can improve people’s health and, consequently, the quality of life.”

Speaking to APE-MPE, Professor Ap Kyritsakis said he was optimistic about the expected results of the planned study and believes that DMB will open new horizons for the bioactive component of olive oil and will be the springboard for new research and discoveries, as has been done so far with its phenols and other micro-components”.

However, the first results of the studies are not expected before the beginning of spring 2026, explained Tassos Kyriakidis, a professor at the Yale School of Public Health. After discovering the exact mechanism of action of DMB as an inhibitor of the harmful compounds TMA and TMAO, we are then led to the specialized clinical studies. Of course, the results are what will determine the course of the research as well as the further development with the benefits for human health.

“Primary at this stage is the role of DMB through nutrition in combating harmful compounds in the human body, the team members emphasize. At a later time, it will be investigated how and which olive varieties are the ones that “give” more DMB.