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A groundbreaking study has revealed that elenolic acid, a natural compound found in olives, may significantly lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss. Conducted on obese mice with diabetes, the research suggests that this compound could lead to the development of safe and affordable natural products for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Promising Results in Mice
The study, led by Dr. Dongmin Liu, professor at the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise at Virginia Tech, found that obese mice given oral elenolic acid for just one week weighed significantly less and had better blood sugar regulation compared to untreated control mice. Remarkably, the glucose-lowering effect of elenolic acid was comparable to the injectable diabetes medication liraglutide and more effective than metformin, a common oral drug for type 2 diabetes.
“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,” said Dr. Liu. Lifestyle modifications and public health measures have had limited impact on the rising prevalence of obesity, a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Current obesity drugs often fall short in maintaining weight loss, are costly, and can have long-term safety risks.
Mechanism of Action
The research team, which includes Dr. Hana Alkhalidy, a research scientist in Liu’s lab, presented their findings at NUTRITION 2024, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Chicago. Liu’s team focuses on identifying bioactive compounds from natural products for diabetes management. They previously searched for specific molecular targets for natural compounds in areas like the pancreas, muscle, fat tissues, and liver. However, due to the poor bioavailability of many natural products, the team shifted their focus to targeting metabolic hormone secretion in the gut.
The researchers identified natural compounds acting on L-cells, which release two metabolic hormones, GLP-1 and PYY, during a meal. These hormones promote satiety, prevent overeating, and regulate blood sugar levels and metabolism. Screening revealed that elenolic acid, found in mature olives and extra virgin olive oil, can induce these hormones’ release in the gut. The team managed to produce elenolic acid by breaking down its precursor oleuropein, a cost-effective method compared to direct extraction from olives.
Significant Health Improvements
Tests on obese mice with diabetes showed substantial improvements in their metabolic health after receiving oral elenolic acid. Over four to five weeks, treated mice showed a 10.7% reduction in obesity, with blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity comparable to healthy lean mice. The compound also significantly reduced food intake and promoted weight loss, linked to improved levels of PYY and GLP-1 and the downregulation of agouti-related peptide in the hypothalamus, which is known to increase eating and weight gain when overexpressed.
“Overall, the study showed that elenolic acid from olives has promising effects on hormone release and metabolic health, particularly in obese and diabetic conditions,” said Dr. Liu. “The compound seems to mimic the physiological conditions of eating to directly promote gut metabolic hormone secretion, which helps regulate energy balance and metabolic health.”
Future Directions
The researchers note that the concentration of elenolic acid in olive oil or olives is very low, meaning the benefits observed in the study would likely not be achieved through olive products alone. The team is now working to understand how elenolic acid creates these metabolic benefits by analyzing its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. This research will also provide insights into its safety for future clinical trials.
If further research confirms these findings, elenolic acid could become a pivotal natural product for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes, offering a safer and more affordable alternative to current treatments.
