A 2002 animal study found that olive leaf extract increased thyroid hormone concentrations. This means that it is a suitable weight loss supplement. Two years ago, Australian scientists from the University of Queensland conducted a study in which this extract was supposed to destroy a certain type of fat in the body.
The studies involved a fattened group of male rats that were fed abundantly for 16 weeks. The animals were given drinking water with glucose and food containing excess fat. The second group of rats ate normal food. During the last 8 weeks of the experiment, half the experimental group and half the control group were given a diet consisting of 3% olive leaf extract.
The second possibility (which does not exclude the first) is that olive leaf extract improves the absorption of nutrients into muscle cells.
Olive leaf extract reduced triglyceride concentrations in fattened rats, suppressed left ventricular growth in the heart, and protected the liver from necrosis.
“The results of this study indicate that olive leaf extract reduced metabolic as well as structural and functional changes in the heart and liver without reducing blood pressure,” the Australians concluded. “We believe that olive leaf extract reduced heart and liver damage through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.” the effect of polyphenols – oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol.
