Olive Leaf Extract

    Researchedby:
    Kamal Patel
    Last Updated: September 28, 2022

    Olive leaf extract comes from the leaves of olive plants, and is distinct from olive oil; the leaf extract contains phenolics such as oleuropein, and appears to have highly protective effects against LDL oxidation and may also benefit glucose metabolism and skin health.

    examine-databaseExamine Database

    Olive Leaf Extract is most often used for .

    636 participants in 11 trials

    Summary

    Olive leaf extract is a supplement derived from the leaves of the plant that bears olive (a fruit from which the cooking oil is derived from) and contains the main bioactives of hydroxytyrosol/tyrosol and oleuropein/ligstroside.

    Olive phenolics in general, which are present in high levels in olive leaf supplements, appear to potently protect against the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. This is attributed to the effects of hydroxytyrosol, and appears to be active at a low enough dose to apply to olive product (e.g., extra virgin olive oil) consumption. Olive leaf may also influence levels of blood lipids in a beneficial manner (lower LDL-C, lower triglycerides, higher HDL-C) although these changes are rather small and inconsistent. Olive leaf extract shows some promise in lowering blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.

    Olive leaf extract may have beneficial effects on glycemic control, although research is limited. The mechanisms of olive leaf on glucose metabolism could be related to effects on pancreatic function and/or inhibition of carbohydrate (e.g., sucrose) metabolism in the intestines.

    Although olive leaf has been implicated in fat burning through various mechanisms (increased thyroid hormones and adrenaline have been shown in animal studies), clinical trials have failed to show a fat burning effect with olive leaf supplement use. The reason for this is not known, but may be related to a decrease in levels of the receptor that adrenaline works through which may attenuate the effects.

    What are other names for Olive Leaf Extract

    Note that Olive Leaf Extract is also known as:
    • Olive polyphenols
    Olive Leaf Extract should not be confused with:
    • Olive oil (the fatty acids from the fruits)
    • Oleuropein (main bioactive)

    Dosage information

    Supplemental olive leaf is taken in the 500-1000 mg range daily, although supplements with even as low as 10 mg (as seen in olive oil products) may confer good protection against LDL oxidation. At least for LDL oxidation, olive food products may suffice rather than supplementation.

    Supplements Demystified: Get Our Unbiased, Evidence-Based Guide

    Examine Database: Olive Leaf Extract

    What works and what doesn't?

    Unlock the full potential of Examine

    Get started

    Research FeedRead all studies

    Examine Database References

    1. Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile - Fitó M, Cladellas M, de la Torre R, Martí J, Alcántara M, Pujadas-Bastardes M, Marrugat J, Bruguera J, López-Sabater MC, Vila J, Covas MI; members of the SOLOS InvestigatorsAntioxidant effect of virgin olive oil in patients with stable coronary heart disease: a randomized, crossover, controlled, clinical trialAtherosclerosis.(2005 Jul)
    2. Oxidative Stress Biomarkers - Covas MI, Nyyssönen K, Poulsen HE, Kaikkonen J, Zunft HJ, Kiesewetter H, Gaddi A, de la Torre R, Mursu J, Bäumler H, Nascetti S, Salonen JT, Fitó M, Virtanen J, Marrugat J; EUROLIVE Study GroupThe effect of polyphenols in olive oil on heart disease risk factors: a randomized trialAnn Intern Med.(2006 Sep 5)
    3. Oxidative Stress Biomarkers - Weinbrenner T, Fitó M, de la Torre R, Saez GT, Rijken P, Tormos C, Coolen S, Albaladejo MF, Abanades S, Schroder H, Marrugat J, Covas MIOlive oils high in phenolic compounds modulate oxidative/antioxidative status in menJ Nutr.(2004 Sep)
    4. LDL Oxidation - Castañer O, Covas MI, Khymenets O, Nyyssonen K, Konstantinidou V, Zunft HF, de la Torre R, Muñoz-Aguayo D, Vila J, Fitó MProtection of LDL from oxidation by olive oil polyphenols is associated with a downregulation of CD40-ligand expression and its downstream products in vivo in humansAm J Clin Nutr.(2012 May)
    5. Liver Enzymes - Susalit E, Agus N, Effendi I, Tjandrawinata RR, Nofiarny D, Perrinjaquet-Moccetti T, Verbruggen MOlive (Olea europaea) leaf extract effective in patients with stage-1 hypertension: comparison with CaptoprilPhytomedicine.(2011 Feb 15)
    6. Blood Pressure - Perrinjaquet-Moccetti T, Busjahn A, Schmidlin C, Schmidt A, Bradl B, Aydogan CFood supplementation with an olive (Olea europaea L.) leaf extract reduces blood pressure in borderline hypertensive monozygotic twinsPhytother Res.(2008 Sep)
    7. LDL Oxidation - Covas MI, de la Torre K, Farré-Albaladejo M, Kaikkonen J, Fitó M, López-Sabater C, Pujadas-Bastardes MA, Joglar J, Weinbrenner T, Lamuela-Raventós RM, de la Torre RPostprandial LDL phenolic content and LDL oxidation are modulated by olive oil phenolic compounds in humansFree Radic Biol Med.(2006 Feb 15)
    8. LDL Oxidation - Marrugat J, Covas MI, Fitó M, Schröder H, Miró-Casas E, Gimeno E, López-Sabater MC, de la Torre R, Farré M; SOLOS InvestigatorsEffects of differing phenolic content in dietary olive oils on lipids and LDL oxidation--a randomized controlled trialEur J Nutr.(2004 Jun)
    9. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - Gimeno E, de la Torre-Carbot K, Lamuela-Raventós RM, Castellote AI, Fitó M, de la Torre R, Covas MI, López-Sabater MCChanges in the phenolic content of low density lipoprotein after olive oil consumption in men. A randomized crossover controlled trialBr J Nutr.(2007 Dec)
    10. Total cholesterol - de Bock M, Derraik JG, Brennan CM, Biggs JB, Morgan PE, Hodgkinson SC, Hofman PL, Cutfield WSOlive (Olea europaea L.) Leaf Polyphenols Improve Insulin Sensitivity in Middle-Aged Overweight Men: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover TrialPLoS One.(2013)
    11. HbA1c - Wainstein J, Ganz T, Boaz M, Bar Dayan Y, Dolev E, Kerem Z, Madar ZOlive leaf extract as a hypoglycemic agent in both human diabetic subjects and in ratsJ Med Food.(2012 Jul)