Olive leaf extract
Summary
Olive leaf extract supplies oleuropein and related polyphenols. Small trials reported modest drops in blood pressure (grade C to D), but the largest placebo-controlled trial found only a small, non-significant difference from placebo. Meta-analyses found no clear effect on blood sugar or blood fats. Trials used 250 to 1,000 mg a day.
Key facts
- Blood pressure (mixed, C); menopause symptom scores (D); blood sugar and lipids (no clear effect in meta-analyses)[1][2][3][4][5]
- 621 people on blood pressure medicine: 24-hour systolic pressure fell 6.4 mmHg from baseline, but only 1.5 mmHg more than placebo (not significant)[2]
- A 2024 review of 12 trials and a 2026 review of 11 trials found no consistent benefit for blood sugar or lipids[4][5]
- 4 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 11, 2026
How it works
ProposedOleuropein and hydroxytyrosol are phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity in lab studies; how olive leaf extract might lower blood pressure in people is not established.[1][4]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metabolic | Grade C | Mixed | Meta-analysis · n = 703 · 2024 | 1 row |
| Heart | Grade C | Mixed | RCT · n = 621 · 2025 | 2 rows |
| Healthy aging | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 60 · 2024 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood sugar, blood pressure and lipids (pooled) | Mixed | Grade C | Meta-analysis · n = 703 · 2024 Adults in 12 randomized trials Form: Olive leaf extract · Dose: Varied across trials · Duration: 2 days to 12 weeks Results were inconsistent; in the pooled analysis fasting glucose with low-dose extract favoured the control group, and the authors called for more consistent trials. | 38287654 (opens PubMed)Source [4] |
| 24-hour blood pressure in people on blood pressure medicine | Mixed | Grade C | RCT · n = 621 · 2025 Adults on treatment for hypertension Form: Olive leaf extract · Dose: Not stated in the abstract · Duration: 12 weeks 24-hour systolic pressure fell 6.4 mmHg from baseline; the difference from placebo was 1.5 mmHg (95% CI −3.9 to 0.51), so the between-group effect was small and not clearly different from zero. | 40990594 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
| Blood pressure in men with prehypertension | Improved | Grade D | Crossover RCT · n = 60 · 2017 Men with prehypertension (systolic 121–140 mmHg) Form: Olive leaf extract · Dose: 136 mg oleuropein + 6 mg hydroxytyrosol a day · Duration: 6 weeks per arm 24-hour systolic pressure was 3.3 mmHg and diastolic 2.4 mmHg lower than with the control drink; total and LDL cholesterol also fell. | 26951205 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Menopause symptom scores in postmenopausal women | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 60 · 2024 Healthy postmenopausal women aged 47–70 Form: Olive leaf extract · Dose: 250 mg/day · Duration: 12 weeks Overall menopause quality-of-life score improved more than with placebo; triglycerides fell; most body-composition measures did not change. | 39599665 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standardized olive leaf extract (oleuropein %) | Varies[2][3][6] | No head-to-head human absorption data between products in our sources.[2][3][6] | No significant adverse events in the 621-person trial.[2][3][6] | Blood pressure, menopause symptoms, metabolic markers (250–1,000 mg/day) |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 250 mg of extract a day (menopause trial) to 500 mg twice a day (hypertension trial) for 6 to 12 weeks; extracts differ in oleuropein content.[3][6][1]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- People on blood pressure medicine
- It is studied for lowering blood pressure, which could add to these drugs; the trials we cite do not report interaction data.[2][6]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No safety data in pregnancy or breastfeeding were found in the trials we cite.[4]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Where to buy Olive leaf extract
Products from brands we partner with that contain Olive leaf extract. Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
- SupersmartPaid linkOlive Leaf Extract (Olecol)2 capsules: 250 mg Olecol olive leaf extract standardized to 32% oleuropein; 30 servingsShop at Supersmart (opens in new tab)Price and label checked 2026-10-11 on the brand’s site.
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Frequently asked questions
Does olive leaf extract lower blood pressure?
Small trials found drops of about 3 mmHg, but in the largest trial (621 people) the difference from placebo was small and not statistically clear.[1][2]
Is olive leaf extract as good as blood pressure medicine?
One 8-week trial reported similar drops to low-dose captopril, but it had no placebo group; it is not a substitute for prescribed treatment.[6]
Sources
- [1]Impact of phenolic-rich olive leaf extract on blood pressure, plasma lipids and inflammatory markers: a randomised controlled trial.. Eur J Nutr, 2017. crossover-RCT
- [2]Efficacy of olive leaf extracts in controlling blood pressure in hypertensive patients: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.. J Hypertens, 2025. RCT
- [3]Olive Leaf Extract Supplementation Improves Postmenopausal Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Parallel Study on Postmenopausal Women.. Nutrients, 2024. RCT
- [4]Olive leaf extract effect on cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.. Nutr Rev, 2024. meta-analysis
- [5]Metabolic and inflammatory effects of oleuropein and olive leaf extract: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. Food Funct, 2026. meta-analysis
- [6]Olive (Olea europaea) leaf extract effective in patients with stage-1 hypertension: comparison with Captopril.. Phytomedicine, 2011. RCT
What changed
- Effect arrows corrected on 1 row(s): outcomes where a harmful measure fell (pain, symptoms, blood pressure, lipids, glucose, risk) now show as improved (up). No study data changed.
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, year and journal taken from the PubMed record) and abstracts read for each cited row. Product details in Where to buy read from the brand page on the date shown. Self-reviewed in a second strict pass (no independent reviewer yet).