A Japanese study published in the Medical Science Monitor3 showed that LDL-cholesterol mean concentrations were lowered in 28 outpatients who were given olive oil supplements once a day for six weeks. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is often referred to as bad cholesterol. The good cholesterol is called high density lipoprotein (HDL). The study authors concluded these results point to an overwhelmingly beneficial influence of olive oil on the lipoprotein spectrum.