Efficacy of olive leaf extracts in controlling blood pressure in hypertensive patients: a double-blind randomized clinical trial

Lamti F, Trabelsi I, Dhaoui R, Hajji E, Amor BB, Sekma A, et al.

Published in J Hypertens, Vol. 43 (11), pp. 1878-1884

Methodology

Multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 621 patients already treated for hypertension, assigned to olive leaf extract (307) or placebo (314) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in 24-hour ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Key Findings

24-hour systolic blood pressure fell by 6.4 mmHg (95% CI -10 to -2.1) with olive leaf extract against 1.5 mmHg (95% CI -3.9 to 0.51) with placebo (P < 0.01). Systolic blood pressure load fell from 53.9% to 42.2% and diastolic load from 30.7% to 21.2% with the extract, with no significant change on placebo. Blood glucose, triglycerides, CRP and body weight also fell, and no significant adverse events were reported.

Conclusions

Olive leaf extract lowered 24-hour blood pressure and blood pressure load in treated hypertensive patients.

Limitations

Dose and oleuropein content are not stated in the abstract; results are reported as changes from baseline in each group; 12 weeks only; not yet replicated by an independent trial of the same size.