Olive Leaf Extract Can Help Tackle High Blood Pressure And Cholesterol

Main Category: Hypertension
Also Included In: Cholesterol
Article Date: 27 Aug 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Taking 1000mg of a specific olive leaf extract (EFLA®943) can lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure in patients with mild hypertension (high blood pressure). These findings came from a 'Twins' trial, in which different treatments were given to identical twins. By doing this, researchers could increase the power of their data by eliminating some of the uncertainties caused by genetic variations between individual people.

The research is published in the latest edition of Phytotherapy Research.

Hypertension is one of the most common and important disease risk factors imposed by the modern lifestyle. Many people would therefore benefit from finding ways of reducing blood pressure. Experiments in rats had previously indicated that olive leaf extract could be one way of achieving this goal.

To test this in humans, researchers from Switzerland and Germany conducted a pilot trial with 20 identical (monozygotic) twin pairs who had an increased blood pressure. Individuals were either given placebo capsules or capsules containing doses of 500mg or 1000mg of olive leaf extract EFLA®943. Pairs of twins were assigned to different treatments. After the subjects had taken the extract for eight weeks researchers measured blood pressures as well as collecting data about aspects of life-style.

"The study confirmed that olive leaf extract EFLA®943 has antihypertensive properties in humans," says one of the co-authors, Cem Aydogan, General Manager, Frutarom Health.

"This works showed that taking a 1000mg dose has substantial effects in people with borderline hypertension," says Aydogan.

Full citation: Perrinjaquet-Moccetti T, Busjahn A, Schmidlin C, Schmidt A, Bradl B, Aydogan C. Food Supplementation with and Olive (Olea europea L.) leaf extract reduces blood pressure in borderline hypertensive monozygotic twins. Phtotherapy research 2008; 22. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2455

Phytotherapy Research is an international journal for the publication of original medicinal plant research, focussing on pharmacology, toxicology and the clinical applications of herbs and natural products in medicine. Papers concerned with the effects of common food ingredients and standardised plant extracts, including commercial products, and mechanistic studies on isolated natural products are particularly welcome. Papers and communications range from case studies to full clinical trials, including studies of herb-drug interactions and other aspects of the safety of herbal medicines. Phytotherapy Research can be accessed online at: http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/ptr

Wiley-Blackwell was formed in February 2007 as a result of the acquisition of Blackwell Publishing Ltd. by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and its merger with Wiley's Scientific, Technical, and Medical business. Together, the companies have created a global publishing business with deep strength in every major academic and professional field. Wiley-Blackwell publishes approximately 1,400 scholarly peer-reviewed journals and an extensive collection of books with global appeal. For more information on Wiley-Blackwell, please visit http://www.blackwellpublishing.com or http://interscience.wiley.com.