Benefits
Raised a blood antioxidant marker in one 30-day food study
In 98 young adults, olive pâté enriched with Hydrovas 10 (10 mg hydroxytyrosol plus tyrosol per 20 g, one tablespoon a day) raised blood antioxidant potential over 30 days more than plain pâté. Blinding was not described, groups were uneven (68 vs 30) and no between-group statistic was reported, so this is preliminary.
No change in LDL or oxidized LDL in a brand combination trial
In a four-month double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 42 adults with mildly raised LDL, a capsule combining 50 mg Hydrovas 10 with bergamot, artichoke and plant sterols did not lower LDL versus placebo. Oxidized LDL, malondialdehyde, other lipids and blood pressure also did not differ between groups.
The EU olive polyphenol claim covers olive oil, not extracts
The EU permits the claim that olive oil polyphenols contribute to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress only for olive oil with at least 5 mg hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives per 20 g, with the effect stated for 20 g of olive oil a day. A 50 to 100 mg serving of this extract supplies a similar amount, but the claim does not extend to it.
Mechanism of action
Free-radical scavenging (laboratory evidence)
Laboratory and animal studies, summarized in the cited review of olive polyphenols, show hydroxytyrosol and related compounds scavenging free radicals and limiting oxidation. Whether a supplement dose protects LDL in people is unsettled: in the brand combination trial, plasma oxidized LDL did not change.
Oxidative stress signaling (laboratory evidence)
The same review describes olive polyphenols dampening inflammatory signaling pathways activated by oxidative stress in cell and animal models. These effects have not been shown for Hydrovas 10 in people.
Clinical trials
Four-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial; registered as NCT04783714, sponsored by Swisse Wellness with CSIRO and Bionap listed as collaborators (Stonehouse et al. 2025, Atherosclerosis).
42 healthy adults aged 18 to under 66 with mildly raised LDL cholesterol and low cardiovascular risk.
Three capsules a day providing 50 mg Hydrovas 10 (the abstract's wording; the registry lists 50 mg hydroxytyrosol) together with 375 mg Bergavit40 bergamot extract, 150 mg Altilix artichoke extract and 1.8 g phytosterols did not lower serum LDL versus placebo (adjusted difference at 4 months -0.12 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.34 to 0.11, p = 0.307). Plasma oxidized LDL, serum malondialdehyde, other lipids, HbA1c, blood pressure and safety markers did not differ between groups. Because it was a combination, any effect of Hydrovas 10 alone cannot be isolated.
Randomized 30-day dietary study comparing enriched versus plain olive pâté, with no blinding described; funded by Italian ministry (MIUR PON) grants (Cavallo et al. 2019, Medicina (Kaunas)).
98 healthy university students aged 18 to 25 (68 given enriched pâté, 30 plain pâté), split by physical activity level.
Olive pâté with added Hydrovas 10 (adjusted to 10 mg hydroxytyrosol plus tyrosol per 20 g; one tablespoon, 20 to 25 g, a day) raised the blood biological antioxidant potential (BAP) test by a mean 736.9 umol/L from baseline (p < 0.01), versus 339.6 umol/L with plain pâté (not marked significant). The authors call the difference significant but report no between-group statistic. Smokers in the enriched group (n = 15) rose more than non-smokers. Single marker, short, blinding not described.