Introduction
Olive leaf refers to the leaves that grow on olive trees. Olive leaf has been used to lower blood pressure and help control blood glucose. It can be taken as a pill, powder, or extract. It can also be made into a tea.
Dosages
500 milligrams 1 to 2 times daily
What Research Shows
May Be Effective
- Diabetes —may help control blood glucose A1
- High blood pressure —may lower total cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol B1-B3
- Osteopenia —may prevent further loss of bone density C1
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe to take olive leaf in small doses for a short time, but allergic reaction may be possible in some people. D1, D2 Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to use for a long period. It is not known whether it is safe to take by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.
References
REFA Diabetes
REFA1 Wainstein J, Ganz T, et al. Olive leaf extract as a hypoglycemic agent in both human diabetic subjects and in rats. J Med Food. 2012;15(7):605-610.
REFB High Blood Pressure
REFB1 Susalit E, Agnus N, et al. Olive (Olea europaea) leaf extract effective in patients with stage-1 hypertension: comparison with Captopril. Phytomedicine. 2011;18(4):251-258.
REFB2 Wong RH, Garg ML, Wood LG, Howe PR. Antihypertensive potential of combined extracts of olive leaf, green coffee bean and beetroot: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Nutrients. 2014 Nov 5;6(11):4881-4894.
REFB3 Lockyer S, Rowland I, et al. Impact of phenolic-rich olive leaf extract on blood pressure, plasma lipids and inflammatory markers: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Nutr. 2017;56(4):1421-1432.
REFC Osteopenia
REFC1 Filip R, Possemiers S, Heyerick A, Pinheiro I, Raszewski G, Davicco MJ, Coxam V. Twelve-month consumption of a polyphenol extract from olive (Olea europaea) in a double blind, randomized trial increases serum total osteocalcin levels and improves serum lipid profiles in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. J Nutr Health Aging. 2015 Jan;19(1):77-86.
REFD Safety
REFD1 Liccardi G, D'Amato M, et al. Oleaceae pollinosis: a review. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 1996 Nov;111(3):210-217.
REFD2 Quiralte J, Palacios L, et al. Modelling diseases: the allergens of Olea europaea pollen. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2007;17 Suppl 1:24-30.