Olive Leaf about as effective as an ACE inhibiting drug at treating stage 1 hypertension in this head-to-head trial

Patients with elevated blood pressure (Stage 1 Hypertension with a systolic reading ranging from 143 to 155 and a diastolic reading ranging from 89 to 99) were placed on either the prescription drug Captopril (an ACE inhibiting drug used to treat high blood pressure) at a dose of 12.5 to 25mg twice a day or Olive Leaf at a dose of 500mg twice a day for eight weeks. The study was a double-blind, randomized, parallel and active-controlled clinical study. Additionally, this study also investigated the hypolipidemic (blood fat) effects of Olive leaf extract in the patients. Blood pressure was checked weekly and blood fats were checked monthly.

After 8 weeks of treatment, both groups experienced a significant reduction of systolic and diastolic blood pressure from the start of the study. Systolic blood pressure dropped by 13 to 14.4 mm Hg in the Captopril group and 3 to 20 mm Hg in the Olive Leaf group.
Diastolic readings dropped by no effect to 10.3 mm Hg in the Olive Leaf group and by 1.2 mmHg to 11.6 mm Hg in the Captopril group. Additionally those on Olive Leaf had a significant reduction of their triglyceride level which did not occur in the Captopril group. The study is published in the February 15th, 2011 issue of the journal
 Phytomedicine.