Home Ingredients Benolea® (Olive Leaf Extract — EFLA 943)
Cardiovascular

Benolea® (Olive Leaf Extract — EFLA 943)

Olea europaea
Evidence Level
Preliminary
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

Benolea® is a standardized olive leaf (Olea europaea) extract, known by the EFLA 943 designation, concentrated for oleuropein. The one clinical trial cited on this page, an 8-week randomized placebo-controlled study in 74 overweight and obese adults, found no significant change in blood lipids, oxidized LDL, blood pressure, glucose, insulin or liver function compared with placebo. Olive polyphenols remain an active research area within a Mediterranean-style eating pattern, but the only human result available for this specific extract is that single null trial.

Studied Dose Product labels commonly suggest 500 to 1000 mg per day. The trial cited on this page used 500 mg per day for 8 weeks and found no significant effect on the markers it measured.
Active Compound Standardized olive leaf extract (EFLA 943) concentrated for oleuropein and related polyphenols.

Benefits

Cardiovascular markers: measured, no significant effect

Cardiovascular markers are what this extract has actually been tested on in people, and the result was null. In a randomized placebo-controlled trial of 500 mg per day for 8 weeks in 74 overweight and obese adults, olive leaf extract produced no statistically significant change versus placebo in blood lipids, oxidized LDL, blood pressure, glucose, insulin or liver function.

Supported by Trial 1

Blood pressure: measured, did not change

Blood pressure was a measured outcome in the trial cited on this page, and it did not move: there was no statistically significant difference between the extract and placebo over 8 weeks. Other olive leaf preparations are still being studied for blood pressure within the normal range, but no effect was seen with this extract at the dose and duration tested.

Supported by Trial 1

Antioxidant compound, metabolic markers unchanged

Oleuropein is an antioxidant compound in laboratory testing. In the human trial cited on this page, glucose, insulin, blood lipids and oxidized LDL were all measured and none of them differed significantly from placebo, so a metabolic benefit has not been shown in people taking this extract.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Oleuropein activity

Oleuropein and its metabolite hydroxytyrosol are studied for effects on blood-vessel function and antioxidant defense. This is a proposed mechanism rather than a measured human outcome, and the trial cited on this page found no significant change in blood pressure or in any other cardiovascular marker it recorded.

2

Nitric-oxide support

Olive polyphenols are proposed to influence the nitric-oxide signaling that keeps blood vessels relaxed and flexible. Nitric oxide was not among the outcomes reported in the trial cited on this page, and the vascular outcomes that were measured did not change.

Clinical trials

1
Olive Leaf Extract and Cardiovascular Markers — RCT
PubMed

Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 500 mg per day of olive leaf extract for 8 weeks, with blood lipids assessed at 4 and 8 weeks. 77 participants enrolled and 74 completed. (Stevens et al. 2021, European Journal of Nutrition)

Overweight and obese but otherwise healthy adults; 77 enrolled, 74 completed.

The trial was null. Olive leaf extract did not significantly affect blood lipid levels after 4 weeks or after 8 weeks compared with placebo (all p greater than 0.05), and there were no statistically significant differences in oxidized LDL, blood pressure, glucose, insulin or liver function either.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated — adverse effects are uncommon at normal doses.
Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported.
Discontinue if any unusual reaction occurs.

Important Drug interactions

Blood pressure medication — olive leaf may add to blood-pressure lowering; monitor.
Diabetes medication — may modestly lower blood sugar; monitor.
Tell your doctor if you take cardiovascular medication.

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Frequently asked questions about Benolea® (Olive Leaf Extract — EFLA 943)

What is Benolea?

Benolea® is a standardized olive leaf (Olea europaea) extract, known by the EFLA 943 designation, concentrated for oleuropein. The one clinical trial cited on this page, an 8-week randomized placebo-controlled study in 74 overweight and obese adults, found no significant change in blood lipids, oxidized LDL, blood pres…

What is Benolea used for?

Benolea is researched primarily for Cardiovascular. Cardiovascular markers are what this extract has actually been tested on in people, and the result was null. In a randomized placebo-controlled trial of 500 mg per day for 8 weeks in 74 overweight and obese adults, olive leaf extract produc…

What is the recommended dosage of Benolea?

The clinically studied dose is Product labels commonly suggest 500 to 1000 mg per day. The trial cited on this page used 500 mg per day for 8 weeks and found no significant effect on the markers it measured. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Benolea safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Benolea is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated — adverse effects are uncommon at normal doses. Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported. It may also interact with some medications. Benolea is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Benolea interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Blood pressure medication — olive leaf may add to blood-pressure lowering; monitor. Diabetes medication — may modestly lower blood sugar; monitor. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Benolea?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Benolea as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 1 cited reference summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(1 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Stevens Y, Winkens B, Jonkers D, et al. The effect of olive leaf extract on cardiovascular health markers: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eur J Nutr. 2021;60(4):2111-2120..PubMedUsed to support: RCT of olive leaf extract on cardiovascular markers. The trial was null: no significant effect on blood lipids, oxidized LDL, blood pressure, glucose, insulin or liver function.