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.

LDL-cholesterol, which serves as a vehicle for transporting cholesterol, has a tendency to settle in parts of the blood vessel walls under the effect of certain factors (oxidation, glycation or degradation): this is the start of hardening of the arteries. Specialist ‘cleaning up’ cells called macrophages are subsequently deposited, followed by other cells, to the point where they form a fatty plaque which impedes the circulation. But the danger really comes when this plaque ruptures: a piece of the plaque can then block the artery downstream where the blood vessel is narrower, causing a heart attack or stroke.

Hypercholesterolaemia therefore drives hardening of the arteries. The longer you wait to address it, the worse the damage becomes.

Contrary to popular belief, excess LDL-cholesterol does not come from eating too much dietary cholesterol (except in the case of familial hypercholesterolemia), but from endogenous over-production. This is the result of several factors: a diet too high in trans fatty acids or too low in omega-3, diabetes, obesity, ageing, smoking or stress ….

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®.

We recommend taking two capsules a day, one with each of your two main meals, as tocotrienols are fat-soluble.

To optimise Sytrinol’s efficacy, it’s a good idea to follow these steps while you are supplementing:

1. Significantly increase the proportion of fruits, vegetables, nuts and wholegrains in your diet.
2. Use herbs, spices, garlic and onion as much as possible, as they are all rich in antioxidants.
3. Restrict your consumption of poultry and red meat, and instead choose fish and seafood wherever possible.
4. Take some exercise every day (a walk after a meal, a sports activity…).
5. Take a daily multivitamin supplement ( Daily 3 is the gold standard).
6. Try other specialist supplements such as Olive Leaf Extract, a triple-action Mediterranean formulation for controlling blood cholesterol and triglycerides, or Red Yeast Rice Extract, a natural alternative to statins.
7. Stop smoking as a priority, and learn to manage your stress better if appropriate.

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.

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.

This product’s softgels are of bovine origin. They are particularly suitable for supplements that require rapid solubility. Made from high-quality bovine gelatine, they are safe and effective.