Olive Leaf Extract Supports Healthy Blood Pressure

Olive leaf (Olea europaea) extract helps manage healthy blood pressure levels, recent research reports. Olive leaf has historically been used for antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

In this new clinical trial, researchers compared the efficacy of olive leaf extract to a blood pressure-lowering pharmaceutical on blood pressure and blood lipids in subjects with mildly elevated blood pressure. The subjects received either olive leaf extract or the drug for 8 weeks. Olive leaf extract was dosed at 500 mg twice daily. The drug was dosed at 12.5 mg twice daily and increased to 25 mg twice daily after 2 weeks if needed, based on the response to treatment. The subjects were evaluated for blood pressure at the beginning of the study and each week during the treatment period. Blood lipids were measured at the beginning of the study and every 4 weeks during the treatment period.

The results of the study showed that systolic and diastolic blood pressure was reduced after 8 weeks in both the group receiving olive leaf extract and the group receiving the pharmaceutical compared to the blood pressures at the beginning of the study. The reduction in blood pressure was similar in both groups. Additionally, the olive leaf extract showed a significant reduction of blood levels of triglycerides, while there was no change in the drug group.

The study authors concluded that olive leaf extract was similarly effective to the pharmaceutical in supporting healthy systolic and diastolic blood pressures in subjects with mildly elevated blood pressure.

Reference:

Susalit E, Agus N, Effendi I, Tjandrawinata RR, Nofiarny D, Perrinjaquet-Moccetti T, Verbruggen M. Olive (Olea europaea) leaf extract effective in patients with stage-1 hypertension: Comparison with Captopril. Phytomedicine. 2011 Feb 15;18(4):251-8.