Ingredients supplier IFF Health announced that it has received two organic certifications for its olive leaf extract, Benolea, which is formulated to support cardiovascular health. The first certification was Non-GMO Project Verification, in addition to recognition from the Council of Ecological Agriculture of the Region of Murcia (CAIRM) for an organic grade of Benolea available to its customers. These new certifications endorse the ingredient as a transparently-sourced, all-natural product. The olive leaves used for IFF’s formulation are harvested in Spain as a side stream of the olive oil industry. The extract is then produced locally at the company’s facility in Murcia, in order to reduce the environmental footprint related to transportation.
 
The Non-GMO Project Verified seal gives consumers assurance that a product has completed a comprehensive third-party verification to ensure that the claim is unbiased, rigorous, and transparent.
 
IFF’s team works closely with olive growers, to ensure that the olive leaf extract is pure, clean, and contains a healthy amount of polyphenol antioxidants. Raw materials, intermediates, and final products are all tested continuously across the supply chain.
 
“We have focused significant R&D activities on researching the cardioprotective mechanisms of the botanical ingredient and optimizing the formula to promote cardiovascular support at the highest purity, quality, and sustainability standards,” Laetitia Petrussa, PhD, product manager for IFF Health.
 
Olive extracts have been used traditionally for their medicinal properties for millennia, going back to the biblical era. In ancient Greece, it was valued as a remedy with multifunctional properties, including benefits to cardiovascular health, gout, and fever, and to promote the body’s natural elimination functions. Today, olives and olive oil play a central role in the Mediterranean diet which has been universally recognized as a leading nutritional approach to support cardiovascular health.
 
Benolea is standardized to a potent concentration of 30% polyphenols with 16-24% oleuropein, which is the most prevalent phenolic component of olives with a strong antioxidant activity evidenced to protect blood lipids from oxidative stress. IFF Health uses its proprietary EFLA HyperPure testing methodology to guarantee the absence of contaminants and ensure a consistently concentrated and stable source of polyphenols, IFF Health said.
 
Benolea has been the subject of a range of animal studies as well as three human clinical trials. In one trial involving 20 monozygotic adult twin volunteers, Benolea intake was associated with dose-dependent decreases in blood pressure. The study also showed a significant reduction of LDL cholesterol and demonstrated positive effects on blood lipid profiles.
 
A secondary metabolite of oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, is responsible for the potent antioxidant potential of olive leaves, and carries an impressive oxygen radical absorbence capacity (ORAC) value that surpasses other antioxidants on the market, such as CoQ10 and green tea extract, IFF said. One daily 500 mg dose of Benolea contains the equivalent polyphenol content of 20 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil sourced polyphenols.
 
“Our dedicated team of expert formulators worked intensively to achieve an ideal combination of olive leaf bioactives and maximize their full potential,” Petrussa said. “Our studies have demonstrated Benolea’s ability to exert coronary ad vascular protection.”