Olive and Pomegranate May Help Improve Blood Lipid Levels

Hydroxytyrosol and punicalagin are polyphenols found in olives and pomegranates, respectively. A new study suggests that supplementation with hydroxytyrosol and punicalagin may help maintain healthy triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

Participants in the study included 84 adults with abnormal cholesterol levels. They were given 9.9 mg of hydroxytyrosol from olive extract and 195 mg of punicalagin from pomegranate extract or a placebo daily for 8 weeks. They switched interventions after a 4-week washout period. Triglyceride and cholesterol levels were measured at baseline and at the end of each 8-week study period.

Participants with high triglyceride levels at baseline saw significant reductions following supplementation. The average decrease was from 201 mg/dl to 155 mg/dl. No changes were seen when taking the placebo.

Participants with high LDL cholesterol levels at baseline saw significant decreases during supplementation, from 179 mg/dl to 163 mg/dl. No changes were seen during the placebo phase. HDL cholesterol levels were improved during supplementation in participants with low levels at baseline. HDL cholesterol levels worsened during the placebo phase.

The study was conducted by researchers from Hospital University La Paz and Swinburne University. It was published online ahead of print on April 29, 2022 in the journal Nutrients.

Oat beta glucan was found to help improve LDL cholesterol levels in a previous study.