Wales Online – Olives could help beat obesity – and keep diabetes at bay, according to new research.
The findings suggest that elenolic acid – a natural compound found in mature olives and extra virgin olive oil – can lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss.
Scientists say the study involving mice could pave the way for the development of cheap and safe natural products for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The American research team found that after just one week, obese mice with diabetes that were given oral elenolic acid weighed “significantly” less and showed better blood sugar regulation than before treatment and compared to control obese mice who didn’t receive elenolic acid.
They said the glucose-lowering effect was comparable with that of the injectable diabetic medication liraglutide and better than metformin, one of the most common oral medicines for type 2 diabetes.
Research team leader Professor Dongmin Liu, of Virginia Tech, said:
“Lifestyle modifications and public health measures have had limited impact on the rising prevalence of obesity, one of the top risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
“Available obesity drugs are ineffective in weight loss maintenance, expensive and/or carry potential long-term safety risks.
“Our goal was to develop safer, cheaper and more convenient multi-targeting agents that can prevent the occurrence of metabolic disorders and type 2 diabetes.”
Prof Liu’s team focuses on discovering bioactive compounds from natural products for diabetes management …
Prof Liu said: “Overall, the study showed that elenolic acid from olives has promising effects on hormone release and metabolic health, particularly in obese and diabetic conditions.”
