Overweight and obesity rates continue to rise worldwide and are one of the main risk factors for developing other non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. In this scenario, the discovery of the properties of elenolic acid, a compound in olives with enormous potential to combat weight gain and regulate blood sugar levels, may represent a milestone in addressing the public health crisis associated with obesity and diabetes.
Credit goes to Professor Dongmin Liu and his research team from Virginia Tech’s Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Exercise who are engaged in research to identify bioactive compounds in natural products that may help manage diabetes. Their new findings have been presented at NUTRITION 2024, the premier annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, and researchers believe they may serve as a basis for developing natural, safe, and inexpensive products to help manage obesity and type 2 diabetes in people.
How does elenolic acid work and what are its benefits?
The gut is home to L cells that release two key metabolic hormones, GLP-1 and PYY, during meals. These hormones are our body’s natural soldiers, responsible for making us feel full to avoid overeating and keeping our blood sugar levels under control. Researchers found that elenolic acid found in ripe olives and extra virgin olive oil activates these hormones in the gut.
The process involved converting oleuropein, a precursor to elenolic acid, into the compound, which is cheaper than direct extraction from olives. Dongmin Liu explained that the study showed that elenolic acid from olives has promising effects on hormone release and metabolic health, especially in conditions of obesity and diabetes.
In obese diabetic mice, the team administered elenolic acid orally and the results were astonishing. Within a week, these mice lost a significant amount of weight and showed improved glucose regulation compared to the control group of obese mice that did not receive elenolic acid.
Mice given elenolic acid experienced a 10.7% reduction in obesity and their blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity were comparable to those of lean, healthy mice.
Over a period of four to five weeks, the mice experienced a 10.7% reduction in obesity. Their blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity were on par with those of lean, healthy mice. Professor Liu and his team found that elenolic acid had other additional benefits, as it reduced food intake, promoting greater weight loss.
It is important to note that the concentration of elenolic acid in olive oil or olives is quite low and that to obtain the impressive benefits of the study it may not be enough to eat olives or dress salads with olive oil, but additional sources or supplements may be necessary to achieve similar effects, have warned the researchers, who have initiated the next phase of their research with the aim of understanding the mechanisms by which this compound induces metabolic benefits, unraveling its route through the body, its absorption, distribution and excretion.
