Olive leaf's therapeutic uses
Olive leaf, derived from the olive tree, is recognized for its potential therapeutic benefits due to a compound called oleuropein, which converts to enolinate in the body. It is widely explored for various health applications, including its proposed roles as an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory agent, and support for managing conditions like diabetes, gout, high blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. Some proponents claim that olive leaf extracts can eliminate harmful microorganisms while promoting beneficial ones, though these assertions require further scientific validation. Research has shown mixed results regarding its effectiveness in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, with some studies suggesting cardiovascular benefits and improved insulin sensitivity in diabetes management. However, the evidence remains inconclusive, as many studies lack rigorous design. While olive leaf is generally considered safe and does not typically cause significant side effects, its safety profile, especially in vulnerable populations like young children and pregnant women, is not well established. As interest in natural remedies grows, olive leaf continues to be a subject of investigation, inviting curiosity about its true health benefits.
Olive leaf's therapeutic uses
DEFINITION: Natural plant product used to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: None
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Antibiotic, diabetes, gout, high blood pressure, cholesterol management, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, weight management, cognitive function, cancer prevention
Overview
Olive leaf contains a substance called oleuropein, which breaks down in the body to another substance called enolinate.
Therapeutic Dosages
Because olive leaf extracts vary widely, label instructions regarding dosing should be followed.
Therapeutic Uses
Websites that promote olive leaf extracts state that pollination kills harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the body but nurtures microbes that are good for health. This remarkable claim, however, needs more meaningful scientific justification. Studies have, however, shown many other possible therapeutic benefits of olive leaf. Studies investigating olive leaf's cardiovascular benefits showed participants experienced moderate blood pressure and cholesterol reduction. Studies have provided mixed results when examining olive leaf’s role in fighting infections. Research has been promising in showing olive leaf’s ability to provide antioxidant benefits, which can protect against free radicals that cause chronic health conditions. Finally, some studies suggest that olive leaf can improve insulin sensitivity and glycemic control, suggesting benefits for diabetes patients.
Scientific Evidence
It is true that oleuropein, enolinate, and other olive leaf constituents or their breakdown products can kill microbes in test-tube studies. However, it is a long way from test-tube studies to evidence of efficacy in humans. Only double-blind, placebo-controlled studies can prove a treatment effective, and the only study of this type reported for olive leaf for this use was too flawed to prove anything. One small, poorly designed trial supposedly found that olive leaf extract reduces blood pressure. However, the study was too small and too poorly designed to produce meaningful results. The widespread claim that olive leaf reduces blood pressure initially came from test-tube and animal studies that were unreliable. Another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of human use of olive leaf to improve cardiovascular health found no significant improvement in human health. Still, emerging studies in the twenty-first century did indicate cardiovascular benefits. Further, studies in the twenty-first century suggest that olive leaf might help control blood sugar levels in diabetes and reduce symptoms of gout, but these claims are still being investigated.
Safety Issues
Olive leaf has not undergone comprehensive safety testing. However, based on the limited evidence available, it does not appear to commonly cause much more in the way of immediate side effects than occasional digestive distress. Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, and people with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established.
Bibliography
Aziz, N. H., et al. "Comparative Antibacterial and Antifungal Effects of Some Phenolic Compounds." MicroBios, vol. 93, 1998, pp. 43-54.
Stevens, Yala, et al. "The Effect of Olive Leaf Extract on Cardiovascular Health Markers: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial." European Journal of Nutrition, vol. 60, no. 4, 2021, pp. 2111-2120, doi:10.1007/s00394-020-02397-9.
Luís, Ángel, et al. "Olive Leaf Extract Supplementation Improves the Vascular and Metabolic Alterations Associated with Aging in Wistar Rats." Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, 2021, pp. 1-16, doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87628-7. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
"Olive Leaf." Drugs, 1 Oct. 2022, www.drugs.com/npp/olive-leaf.html. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
"Olive Leaf." Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 12 Apr. 2023, www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/olive-leaf. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.