STUDY LIBRARY
29 of over 2,000 published studies
A curated selection. More than 2,000 peer-reviewed papers have investigated olive oil polyphenols across cardiovascular, neurological, metabolic, and inflammatory pathways. The 29 studies below are the ones most directly relevant to the benefits discussed on our health page. They are not the complete literature. They are the clearest, most methodologically sound, and most widely cited entries for each health area.
For the full body of research, visit PubMed directly using the link at the bottom of this page.
Cardiovascular Health
The effect of polyphenols in olive oil on heart disease risk factors
Covas et al. • Annals of Internal Medicine, 2006
doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-145-5-200609050-00006
Olive Oil Polyphenols Decrease LDL Concentrations and LDL Atherogenicity
Hernaez et al. • Journal of Nutrition, 2015
Olive Oil Polyphenols Enhance High-Density Lipoprotein Function
Hernaez et al. • Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 2014
Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet (PREDIMED)
Estruch et al. • New England Journal of Medicine, 2018
Olive oil intake and risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality
Guasch-Ferre et al. • BMC Medicine, 2014
Polyphenols in olive oil and protection of LDL from oxidative damage
EFSA Panel • EFSA Journal, 2011
Anti-Inflammatory
Ibuprofen-like activity in extra-virgin olive oil
Beauchamp et al. • Nature, 2005
Blood Sugar & Diabetes
Prevention of Diabetes with Mediterranean Diets (PREDIMED sub-analysis)
Salas-Salvado et al. • Annals of Internal Medicine, 2014
EVOO effect on inflammation and gut/saliva microbiota
Universidade Catolica Portuguesa • Biomolecules, 2025
Brain Health & Neuroprotection
Olive Oil Consumption and Risk of Dementia-Related Death
Tessier et al. • JAMA Network Open, 2024
Olive oil, gut microbiota, and cognitive function in older adults
Ni et al. • Microbiome, 2026
EVOO Enhances Blood-Brain Barrier Function in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Kaddoumi et al. • Nutrients, 2022
Oleocanthal enhances beta-amyloid clearance
Abuznait et al. • ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 2013
EVOO attenuates amyloid-beta and tau in TgSwDI mice
Qosa et al. • Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2015
Oleocanthal enhances amyloid clearance across the blood-brain barrier
Qosa et al. • ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 2015
Oleocanthal-rich EVOO restores blood-brain barrier function
Al Rihani et al. • ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 2019
Modulation of tau protein fibrillization by oleocanthal
Monti et al. • Journal of Natural Products, 2012
Olive polyphenols and glutathione in mild Alzheimer's disease
Marianetti et al. • Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research, 2022
Anticancer Properties
Oleocanthal induces cancer cell death via lysosomal membrane permeabilization
Molecular & Cellular Oncology, 2015
Olive phenolics as c-Met inhibitors in breast cancer models
Akl et al. • PLoS One, 2014
Gut Microbiome
Gut Microbiota Modulation by Olive Oil Phenolic Compounds
Farras et al. • Nutrients, 2020
Phenol-Enriched Olive Oils and Human Intestinal Immune Function
Martin-Pelaez et al. • Nutrients, 2016
Phenol-enriched olive oil improves HDL characteristics (VOHF Study)
Farras et al. • Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 2015
Olive Oil Intake and Gut Microbiota in Colorectal Cancer Prevention
Rodriguez-Garcia et al. • Nutrients, 2022
Bone & Joint Health
Olive oil polyphenols and bone density in postmenopausal women
Filip et al. • Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 2015
Women's Health
Olive oil and menopause quality of life
Zhao et al. • Nutrients, 2024
The Inhibitory Effect of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Its Active Compound Oleocanthal on Prostaglandin-Induced Uterine Hypercontraction and Pain—Ex Vivo and In Vivo Study
Chiang et al. • Nutrients 2020,
Oral Health
Olive oil and Polyphenols: Treatment of Gingivitis
Zumbo et al. • Journal of Clinical Medecine, 2023
Want the full body of research?
This is a curated list. The full peer-reviewed literature on olive oil spans more than 2,000 papers and grows every month. For complete coverage, including the latest research, search PubMed directly. Every entry is indexed, abstracted, and linked to the original publisher.