Olive Leaf Extract a natural-source dietary supplement produced from olive leaves. It contains a very high level of oleuropein, a bioactive phytonutrient specific to the olive tree, which helps control blood lipids and prevent carbohydrate absorption.

It is aimed at anyone who wants to improve their cardiovascular health and maintain the integrity of their blood vessels. Individuals with the following risk factors are likely to be particularly interested in this product:

• Those who are overweight.
• Those with type 2 diabetes.
• Those prone to circulation problems.
• Those with high blood pressure.
• Those who are stressed.
• Those who have hypercholesterolemia.

With the molecular formula C₃₀H₄₈O₄, corosolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene with the scientific name 2-alpha-hydroxyursolic acid. It fulfils the role of transporting glucose across cell membranes, and has thus been widely popularised in the scientific literature as ‘phyto-insulin’ or ‘botanical insulin’.

Isolated in several plants such as cranberry and Japanese loquat, corosolic acid is predominantly known for being the most active compound in banaba leaf. Studies also suggest that its ellagitannins may act in the same way as, or synergistically with, corosolic acid (4).

It’s on the strength of these various factors that the supplement Glucofit Banaba features a banaba extract standardised to 18% corosolic acid for enhanced effects.

As well as supplementing with banaba, the following tips will also help you to reduce your blood glucose levels naturally:

• take regular exercise. During physical activity, muscles use more glucose in order to meet the increased energy needs. In addition, a sedentary lifestyle promotes insulin resistance by reducing type 1 slow muscle fibres, which are particularly glucose-hungry. Mobilizing these specific tissues through endurance exercise is therefore particularly recommended (6) ;
• choose foods with a low glycaemic index (GI). Consuming high GI foods (sweets, refined cereals, puffed rice …) causes a sudden rise in glycaemia and a significant release of insulin. Instead eat whole fruits, vegetables, whole starches and pulses, which will also ensure a good fibre intake. And keep your portions moderate. (7) ;
• relax. In primitive times, stress alerted the body to imminent danger and triggered the ‘fight or flight’ response by increasing the energy resources available. In a stressful situation, the antagonist of insulin, glucagon, causes glucose to be released into the bloodstream through the conversion of glycogen. The result is a rise in blood sugar levels. To maintain normal glycaemia, try meditation, yoga or relaxation exercises (8-9).

The effect of Olive Leaf Extract capsules has been directly measured in three clinical trials (22).

1) One year’s supplementation with 250mg a day

Following 12 months’ daily supplementation by subjects with elevated cholesterol levels, researchers recorded:

• A 20% reduction in ‘bad’ LDL-cholesterol.
• A 13% increase in ‘good’ HDL-cholesterol.
• A 10% decrease in total cholesterol and a 5% decrease in triglycerides.

2) Four weeks’ supplementation with 250mg a day

In overweight subjects, there was a significant improvement over four weeks in the expected ratio of coronary risk as compared with placebo. A clear decrease in triglycerides was observed.

3) Eight weeks’ supplementation with 250mg a day

The third study examined the ability of Olive Leaf Extract to reduce oxidative stress. Results showed that daily supplementation with 250mg reduced levels of MDA (malondialdehyde) by almost a third, a urinary marker of oxidative stress.

Why use extracts of olive leaf rather than olives?

Studies suggest that the leaves and fruit are equally rich in oleuropein (23), but the olive leaf is considered a more renewable natural source for extraction (24). Hence its use in Olive Leaf Extract, and its ingredient Olécol®.

To further enhance the efficacy of Olive Leaf Extract, you can adopt these additional measures throughout the supplementation period:

1. Significantly increase your intake of fruit, vegetables, nuts and whole grains.
2. Make liberal use of herbs, spices, garlic and onion.
3. Only use olive oil for dressings and rapeseed oil for cooking.
4. Eat at least one yoghurt a day (preferably sheep’s milk).
5. Limit your intake of poultry and red meat, and instead choose fish and seafood whenever possible.
6. Be physically active every day (go for a walk after a meal, take part in sports, do some exercises …).
7. Take a daily multivitamin supplement.

These measures are part of the Mediterranean diet which is based on the long-term food habits of Mediterranean populations. They are a good accompaniment to supplementing with Olive Leaf Extract though not essential for obtaining the benefits of this product.

You may also be interested in other supplements related to glucose metabolism and appetite control:

• Berberine, a barberry supplement, promotesglucose metabolism as well as good cardiovascular health (10) ;
• the supplement Organic Moringa, containing a leaf extract of this age-old Ayurvedic plant, helps to break down glucose and maintain normal blood sugar levels (11) ;
• CSAT®, a natural carob extract, promotes a feeling of satiety and can thus help you achieve your weight loss goals (12).

This product’s capsules are made of pullulan, a natural polysaccharide obtained by fermenting tapioca or corn. Pullulan contains no animal ingredients and provides an excellent barrier to oxygen, helping to preserve the integrity of the capsule’s ingredients. It is also an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic materials.