{"id":490431,"date":"2026-05-18T10:35:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T10:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/490431\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T10:35:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T10:35:13","slug":"olive-waste-extract-may-help-lower-fat-and-improve-muscle-markers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/490431\/","title":{"rendered":"Olive waste extract may help lower fat and improve muscle markers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Could a byproduct of olive oil production help protect muscle health? Researchers report that a polyphenol-rich olive wastewater extract was linked to modest improvements in body composition, hydration, and antioxidant markers in adults with metabolic risk factors.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Olive<\/strong><\/a>Study: A Polyphenol-Rich Olive Oil Byproduct-Derived Nutraceutical Preserves Muscle Health in Adults at Metabolic Risk: A Secondary Analysis of a Pilot Study<\/a>. Image credit: Busra Ispir\/Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

A recent Nutrients<\/strong> <\/a>study examined how short-term supplementation with a polyphenol extract derived from olive mill wastewater (Oliphenolia\u00ae, OMWW-OL) influences muscle-related parameters and antioxidant biomarkers in adults at metabolic risk.<\/p>\n

Metabolic syndrome drives oxidative muscle decline<\/p>\n

Muscular health is inversely and independently associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, regardless of cardiorespiratory fitness, age, adiposity, or smoking status. Enhanced muscular performance correlates with reduced risk of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, hyperinsulinemia, and type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n

Metabolic syndrome contributes to muscle dysfunction and sarcopenia via insulin resistance, chronic inflammation<\/a>, oxidative stress, and ectopic fat deposition, impairing protein synthesis and mitochondrial function. Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) further accelerate muscle degradation and hinder regeneration.<\/p>\n

Muscle function declines with malnutrition, inactivity, malignancy, or immobilization, all of which increase mortality risk. Maintaining muscle mass and function is crucial. Deficiencies in protein, vitamin D, or antioxidants disrupt muscle metabolism and regeneration, while low serum albumin may indicate heightened risk of muscle wasting.<\/p>\n

Although resistance training, nutritional optimization, and hormonal therapy can partially restore muscle function, pharmacological options for sarcopenia remain limited. Early, targeted interventions addressing metabolic dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation are essential for preserving muscle integrity and functional capacity in at-risk populations.<\/p>\n

Nutraceutical strategies aim to develop food-based products that confer health benefits beyond basic nutrition. OMWW, a sustainable byproduct, is rich in polyphenols such as hydroxytyrosol and verbascoside, which offer potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory<\/a> effects. These compounds are increasingly being explored for their potential to support muscle and metabolic health.<\/p>\n

Preclinical studies demonstrate that these polyphenols enhance mitochondrial function and reduce inflammation, suggesting potential benefits for muscle, gut, immune, and cardiovascular systems. Although these models reveal promising mechanisms, their findings may not fully extrapolate to humans, and the effects on cancer-related sarcopenia remain uncertain.<\/p>\n

Assessing the potential of OMWW-OL to improve muscular health<\/p>\n

The current study re-analyzes pilot trial data on OMWW-OL (Oliphenolia\u00ae), a polyphenol- and hydroxytyrosol-rich extract, to assess its effects on muscle-related parameters and body composition in adults at risk for metabolic syndrome.<\/p>\n

The original study was a small, single-arm, longitudinal trial conducted in Sicily in which everyone tried OMWW-OL and compared their results with their own. People could participate if they had metabolic health issues, unless they had ongoing illnesses, used certain medicines, followed strict diets, or already took polyphenol supplements.<\/p>\n

After a seven-day washout, participants took 25 mL OMWW extract twice daily for 30 days. Hydroxytyrosol was the main polyphenol, with verbascoside, tyrosol, and p-coumaroyl secoiridoids present in smaller amounts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Calf, arm, and wrist circumferences were measured as anthropometric proxies related to muscle mass and muscle status. Muscle quantity and body composition were assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), including skeletal muscle mass (SMM), fat mass (FM), muscle mass (MM), skeletal muscle index (SMI), and hydration. Blood samples were also analyzed for biochemical markers.<\/p>\n

All relevant measurements were taken at baseline, after 30 days of supplementation, and 30 days post-supplementation to assess both immediate and persistent effects.<\/p>\n

Fat mass declined during olive extract supplementation<\/p>\n

A total of 29 adults with at least one metabolic syndrome-related trait were enrolled, of whom 23 completed all study visits. The mean age was 59 years. At baseline, participants were overweight, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.5 kg\/m\u00b2 and an average weight of 76.6 kg, indicating moderate metabolic risk but preserved muscle mass.<\/p>\n

Baseline measurements showed average FM of 23.3 kg, MM of 24.7 kg, SMM of 24.7 kg, and SMI of 8.8 kg\/m\u00b2. Relative fat mass and muscle mass percentages were 30.0 % and 32.4 %, respectively. Other parameters, including limb circumferences, total body water (TBW), hydration status, electrical resistance, ferritin, protein thiols (PSH), antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and liver and kidney markers, were within normal or near-normal ranges.<\/p>\n

OMWW-OL supplementation resulted in significant reductions in FM (4.3 %), fat mass percentage (3.5 %), and fat mass index (4.2 %). Muscle mass percentage increased modestly but significantly by 2 %, while both skeletal muscle mass and skeletal muscle index showed slight increases at follow-up, indicating preservation or improvement of lean body composition. Electrical resistance decreased, which the authors interpreted as being consistent with positive changes in body composition and hydration status.<\/p>\n

At 30 days after discontinuation of OMWW-OL supplementation, calf circumference increased progressively by 3.6 %, while arm and wrist circumferences remained stable or changed minimally, suggesting possible peripheral changes over time. Total body water and hydration status remained stable or showed slight improvement, with a significant increase in hydration by the end of the study.<\/p>\n

Ferritin and protein thiol levels increased over time, with ferritin rising significantly by 16.2 %. Antioxidant capacity exhibited variable changes, with a significant difference between the periods following 30 days of OMWW-OL supplementation and those following 30 days of discontinuation.<\/p>\n

Body weight and BMI decreased modestly but significantly by 0.9 %, reflecting a favorable trend in body mass reduction.<\/p>\n

Olive polyphenols show early muscle health potential<\/p>\n

The current study indicated that short-term supplementation with OMWW-OL may help preserve muscle mass, reduce fat mass, and improve antioxidant status in adults at risk of metabolic syndrome, though the effects were modest and not consistently statistically significant. The findings suggest directionally consistent changes in body composition, hydration, and antioxidant-related markers, but do not establish improvements in muscle function or prevention of sarcopenia.<\/p>\n

These trends, while promising, require confirmation in larger randomized controlled trials to establish clinical relevance and to understand the underlying mechanisms, particularly for broader applications. The study was also limited by the absence of a placebo control group, lack of detailed dietary control, and lack of direct muscle strength or physical performance assessments.<\/p>\n

Download your PDF copy by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Journal reference:<\/p>\n