6/7/2011 --- A new study, conducted at the University of Indonesia, has proven that the olive leaf extract Benolea from Frutarom is as efficient as the widely used pharmaceutical Captopril in lowering elevated blood pressure levels. The company presented these results during this year’s Vitafoods in Geneva. According to the study, Benolea significantly reduces total cholesterol and plasma triglyceride levels, an effect which was not observed with the conventional drug.

The randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active controlled study1 involved 232 participants aged 25 to 60 years with stage-1 hypertension (systolic blood pressure 140-159 mmHg, and/or diastolic blood pressure 90-99 mmHg) who were not taking any medication or were asked to stop it upon consent. A four-week run-in period without treatment was followed by eight weeks of treatment with either one 500 mg Benolea caplet or one 12.5 mg Captopril tablet, each taken twice a day. After two weeks, if participants showed no response to Captopril, they received a double dose of the drug.

Dietary advice was given to help participants manage their hypertension, and adverse events and changes in laboratory parameters such as routine hematology, serum electrolytes, liver and renal function were monitored.

At the end of the study, both Benolea and Captopril had clearly lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to baseline. The reduction of blood pressure in the natural treatment group with Benolea was comparable to the pharmaceutical group with Captopril.

With regards to lipid profile, Benolea significantly reduced total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Particularly in participants with high baseline triglyceride levels (>200 mg/dl), the reduction was remarkable: the triglycerides diminished by 53.13 mg/dl. Such positive effects were not observed in the Captopril group.

In summary, the results of this clinical study show that the olive leaf extract has similar blood pressure reducing effects in people with mild elevated values as a standard anti-hypertensive drug. Benolea also positively influences the lipid profile of this population, and is safe and well-tolerated.

These findings echo the results of a preliminary study in monozygotic twins, which reported the benefits of Benolea in lowering blood pressure and LDL cholesterol in borderline hypertension.2

Benolea is stable in film-coated tablets, and is a valuable dosage form for food supplements. Furthermore, it is water soluble and can be used in still or carbonated drinks in appropriate dosages, taking into account national food regulations.

Due to Frutarom’s gentle manufacturing process, Benolea is standardized for Oleuropein, a substance present in the olive plant that has been shown to possess blood pressure lowering effects. This is in contrast to many other olive leaf extracts, which are standardized for Hydroxytyrosol, a degradation product of Oleuropein with antioxidant properties but without any proven beneficial effect on blood pressure. Frutarom’s manufacturing process prevents the degradation of Oleuropein to Hydroxytyrosol. 

(1) Susalit E, et al. 2011. Olive (Olea europaea) leaf extract effective in patients with stage-1 hypertension: comparison with Captopril. Phytomedicine 15;18(4):251-8
(2) Perrinjaquet-Moccetti T, et al. 2008. Food supplementation with an olive (Olea europaea L.) leaf extract reduces blood pressure in borderline hypertensive monozygotic twins. Phytother Res; 22(9):1239-42