Benefits
Fewer sick days, not fewer illnesses, in a small athlete trial
In a 9 week randomized trial in 32 high school athletes, an olive leaf extract supplying 100 mg of oleuropein a day (not Olivactive) did not change how many came down with an upper respiratory illness. A smaller share of days was spent sick (16% vs 20%), reported as 28% fewer sick days, but only 29 people were analyzed, sick days fell in girls and rose in boys, and 4 on the extract reported side effects.
Antibacterial and antiviral activity in lab studies only
In lab dishes, Olivactive itself slowed the growth of Campylobacter and Helicobacter pylori bacteria, though less than a hydroxytyrosol-rich olive leaf extract did, and pure oleuropein slowed copying of herpes simplex virus in human cells. None of this was tested in people, so it does not show that taking Olivactive acts against any germ in the body.
Blood pressure in adults with raised readings (class evidence)
A meta-analysis of olive leaf extract trials in adults with prehypertension or high blood pressure found that 500 mg a day lowered systolic pressure by about 6 mmHg versus placebo or no treatment (two trials, 80 people, low certainty), with no change in diastolic pressure or LDL. 1,000 mg a day did not beat placebo. Olivactive was not tested.
Inflammation markers: lab studies and one small class signal
In lab studies, Olivactive itself lowered the inflammatory signal IL-8 in human stomach cells infected with bacteria, and two compounds purified from another olive leaf extract lowered IL-6 and TNF-alpha in immune, blood vessel and airway cells. In people, one 60 person trial within a meta-analysis found 500 mg a day of a different olive leaf extract lowered IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha versus placebo.
Antioxidant activity in laboratory tests only
Oleuropein slowed copper-driven oxidation of LDL cholesterol particles in a test tube, and olive leaf extracts reduced lipid peroxidation in stressed human cells in culture. No study cited here measured antioxidant status or LDL oxidation in people taking olive leaf extract, so an antioxidant benefit from the supplement is unproven.
Mechanism of action
Antibacterial and antiviral activity (lab studies)
In lab tests that named Olivactive, it reduced the growth of Campylobacter strains and was active against H. pylori strains, though less than a hydroxytyrosol-rich olive leaf extract, and simulated stomach digestion weakened this activity. Separately, oleuropein inhibited herpes simplex virus type 1 in human cells, with activation of the antiviral protein PKR. No study involved people.
Macrophage activation (maker's proposed mechanism)
Pharmactive says Olivactive stimulates macrophages and granulocytes to help fight pathogens, but we found no published data on this. The closest cited work found oleuropein increased nitric oxide output from mouse macrophages challenged with bacterial endotoxin, through higher iNOS activity. That is a mouse cell study, not a measurement in people.
Anti-inflammatory effects in aged (senescent) cells
Oleacin and oleuropein aglycone, purified from olive leaf extract, lowered inflammatory signals (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-8, adhesion molecules and IL-6) in lab models of human immune cells, blood vessel cells including aged (senescent) ones, and airway cells exposed to a viral mimic. This is cell culture work, so it does not show effects on aging or lung health in people.
LDL oxidation inhibition in a test tube
In a test tube, oleuropein at 10 micromolar inhibited copper sulphate induced oxidation of LDL cholesterol particles. No study cited here tested this in people, and slowing a reaction in a test tube does not by itself mean anything for a person's arteries.
Clinical trials
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial over 9 weeks of a competitive season (May to July 2018). One tablet a day of an unnamed olive leaf extract equivalent to 20 g of leaf and containing 100 mg oleuropein, or a corn starch placebo. Primary outcome: upper respiratory illness incidence and duration. Not Olivactive; funded by a University of Auckland seed fund. (Somerville et al. 2019, Nutrients)
32 high school students playing on their school's elite sports teams; illness results reported for 29 (17 on extract, 12 on placebo).
Illness incidence did not differ (10 of 17 on extract and 7 of 12 on placebo had an illness; odds ratio 1.02, 95% CI 0.21 to 4.44). The share of days spent sick was lower on the extract (0.16 versus 0.20), reported as a 28% reduction in sick days (odds ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.93, p = 0.02). Sick days fell in girls but rose in boys. Four people on the extract (stomach aches, headaches, acne) and one on placebo reported side effects; tablet compliance was 75% versus 84%.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 5 randomized trials of olive leaf extract (PROSPERO CDR 42020181212), analysed by dose and comparator. None used Olivactive; two included trials used extract batches of about 20% oleuropein. Certainty of evidence rated low (GRADE). Authors declared no competing interests. (Ismail et al. 2021, PeerJ)
325 adults aged 18 to 80 with prehypertension or high blood pressure, pooled from 5 trials.
500 mg a day versus placebo or no treatment lowered systolic pressure by 5.78 mmHg (95% CI 1.30 to 10.27; two trials, 80 people), with no change in diastolic pressure or in total, LDL or HDL cholesterol, and lowered IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha in one trial of 60. 1,000 mg a day did not differ from placebo, nor did a 1,000 mg combined formula. ALT and AST did not change. The authors say the evidence is too limited for a robust conclusion.