Olive Leaf Extract
July 21, 2009 Written by JP
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When you walk into a health food store you have a few different ways of acquiring information about prospective products. You can look product labels, ask for guidance from a store employee, or peruse the books that are often sold alongside nutritional supplements. There’s no question that you’ll get some information from all three of these resources. Part of what you’ll learn will likely be accurate and some of it will be based mostly on well meaning, but anecdotal and/or preliminary information. When I worked in the natural health industry, I experienced a similar advisory experience whenever a customer asked about olive leaf extract.
Perhaps the most common application of olive leaf extract (OLE) is to support the body in fighting infections. Not surprisingly, OLE tends to sell best during the typical cold and flu season. While there is evidence that OLE possesses antimicrobial properties, there’s actually very little scientific data supporting its use against the common cold and influenza. In fact, a recent summary published in the journal Alternative Medicine Review could only cite one study from 1977 as proof of its seasonal immune boosting properties. (1) This doesn’t mean that OLE is ineffective in this application, it simply emphasizes the fact that most of the evidence to support this use is based on personal testimonials and not controlled studies.
There are however several other health conditions that do appear to respond to OLE. Ironically, these are generally not the medical issues that come to mind when olive leaf is discussed. Here’s a brief overview of what the past several years of research have taught us about OLE:
- Cancer - Olive leaf components are now being studied in human cancer trials because of their potential ability to combat tumor growth. Substances found in OLE such as flavonoids, oleanolic acid and phenols have shown preliminary activity against bladder, breast, colon and gastric cancer, as well as leukemia. (2,3,4,5,6,7)
- Diabetes - Phytochemical antioxidants in OLE have demonstrated properties that lower blood sugar and prevent diabetes related cardiovascular damage. This effect may also be related to cancer in that elevated blood sugar levels have recently been associated with an increased risk of a variety of cancers (see image below). (8,9,10,11,12)
- Heart Disease - Olive leaf extracts may benefit the cardiovascular system in a variety of ways: a) decreasing LDL “bad” cholesterol, triglycerides and increasing HDL “good” cholesterol”; b) protecting the kidneys and liver via antioxidant action; c) lowering high blood pressure; and d) improving circulation through healthy platelet aggregation. (13,14,15,16,17)
There are two other positive points that I found while reviewing the medical literature: 1) OLE is building a good track record with regard to taming inflammation. A chronic state of low level inflammation may contribute to all of the previously mentioned conditions and more. OLE has exhibited anti-inflammatory action in various sites throughout the body. (18,19,20) This indicates promise in the management of everything from arthritis to vascular dementia. 2) A recent safety review determined that olive leaf extract appears to be safe, even when used in rather large dosages. (21)
In my opinion, the current status of olive leaf extract is actually quite promising. The trouble is that the information being presented to most consumers doesn’t quite match up with the hard data. It could very well be that the many anecdotal testimonials about OLE will one day prove to be accurate. I’m certainly rooting for that to be the case. Until then, I hope that you’ll continue to research and expand your knowledge about what is actually known about this ancient remedy and what is still left to be discovered.
Be well!
JP
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Tags: Cancer, Diabetes, Heart, Olive
Posted in Nutritional Supplements
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I personally love to eat olives and put olive oil products in my hair. I’m not sure if these have the same health benefits as oil leaf extracts, but they might.
Great read!
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Thanks, Christina.
They do appear to possess many of the same benefits of the leaf extracts and oils.
I love olives too. Lately, I’ve been craving them like mad! My favorite is olive stuffed with feta cheese. So good.
Be well!
JP
July 22nd, 2009 at 5:03 pm
The last thing anyone needs to worry about is high cholesterol. If you love olive oil fine, but don’t worry about the fat in cheese and meats. Most of our cholesterol is manufactured by our liver, and what we eat makes nary little difference. Furthermore, the idea that so-called raised cholesterol levels is a risk factor for heart disease is an outright fraud.
I suggest the following link for those who fear cholesterol. This will help point out the facts, and lead you to the actual research itself.
http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm
July 22nd, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Thank you for your input, Rob.
I tend to take a slightly different view. I don’t think cholesterol is completely irrelevant but I also would never resort to artificial means of lowering my cholesterol – such as the use of statin medications.
I think Dr. William Davis is on the right track about the various factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease and wellness.
Be well!
JP
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:05 pm
My ex-wife, who is fighting cancer, and I both take Now Allibiotic which contains olive leaf extract.
http://www.nowfoods.com/M044509.htm
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:23 pm
That’s an interesting product, Iggy.
Have you noticed any effect while using it? Or, are you taking it mainly as a preventive measure?
Be well!
JP
September 7th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
We’ll we’ve been getting quite a bit of news over the past few years about the benefits of the ‘mediterranean diet’ with its high use of olives and olive oil. So it makes some sense that there are benefits from the leaves of the tree too.
There is increase research being done in this area, although it looks to currently concentrate on what is in it rather clinical trials of its effectiveness.
September 9th, 2010 at 10:59 am
I recently came back to taking the olive oil let me explain ..
Taking the olive oil by toast and jam just a teaspoon in the mornings every mornings well its suppose to cure ulcers and help out with cancer.
Now i find companies(making the olive leaf oil) saying there product does this all what the olive oil does how is that? Is there a difference?
I find some ingredients in these olive leaf products can actually have containments (spelling) lol in them so i am sticking with the pure olive oil that comes in a bottle rather than a pill/capsules in a box with a name and what it can heal!!!!!
The leaf is not the oil people! Can the companies prove this? There just taking what the olive oil has done* for people and putting it on their ‘box’ to sell ‘Leaves’ leafs; oil from it…off by one ingredient and it wont work like the oil remember that…one.
These places who sell the ‘Olive Leaf’ capsule cannot prove this is the same ingredients of the ‘Olive Oil’ oil people not a leaf theres a big difference and when catching this ‘phrase’ on there bottles …think again just because it comes from a tree its not the same thing..NOT and will not work the same way and could have harmful results..one tiny ingredient if not made correctly can and will make you sick
Theres a process..is what it is all about.. ‘Olive Oil’ is the only thing that can cure ulcers and cancers help with your system to grow stronger Don’t be fooled by a company with a label sure you can take the Olive Leaf but can they prove what we all know about the oil? On paper from a lab? We will see…and it won’t be the same nor will they have the comparison to both Olive oil not Olive leaf there not the same..
Remember dont be fooled with a name or label..research this all.
September 9th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Thelma,
Olive oil and olive leaf extract aren’t the same. However, they do share some of the same components. Likewise, they possess distinctive and shared health promoting properties.
Be well!
JP