Olive leaf extract may boost muscle health in older age, study finds

New research suggests a molecule found in olive leaves could help combat age-related muscle loss.

Weakening of muscles is a major public health challenge. As it progresses, people can become weak, frail and lose their independence.

Insights from an international study suggest that oleuropein could help protect muscle health in older age.

Researchers from our NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) were part of the study team. The consortium was led by the University of Padua in Italy.

Their findings have been published in Cell Metabolism.

Understanding muscle loss

Sarcopenia causes a loss of muscle mass and function in older age.

Around 2.7 million people in the UK are living with sarcopenia. This number is expected to rise as the number of older people increases.

There are several factors that contribute to muscles losing strength.

One of these is linked to calcium uptake into the mitochondria, the part of our cells that is responsible for energy production. As we age, this process slows down. This results in muscles producing less energy.

A natural molecule

Oleuropein is a molecule found in olive leaf extract. A concentrated dose of oleuropein is already marketed as a dietary supplement for human use.

Oleuropein is also present in olives and olive oil, although in smaller quantities.

In this study, researchers took muscle samples from older people with low muscle mass and weak grip strength. They discovered that they had lower levels of a key protein that supports calcium transport into the mitochondria.

Mice bred to have higher levels of this protein had improved mitochondrial function, together with enhanced endurance and reduced fatigue.

‘Exciting results’

The research team screened almost 5,000 natural molecules. They found that oleuropein attaches to the protein that helps move calcium into the mitochondria.

“Normal muscle function requires the uptake of calcium into the mitochondria that generate the energy for muscle contraction”, explained Emma Garratt, one of the research leads in Southampton. “This uptake of calcium into muscle cells declines during muscle aging, compromising muscle function.”

“Targeting mitochondria to boost muscle health has been an area of intense investigation over the past decade. In the present study, we identified a natural dietary molecule that directly stimulates energy production in muscle mitochondria, signposting a new way to support muscle health in older people.”

Prof Keith Godfrey, a Professor of Epidemiology and Human Development at the University of Southampton, was involved in the study. He leads the NIHR Southampton BRC’s Nutrition, Lifestyle and Metabolism theme. Prof Godfrey said:

“For the first time, we’ve shown that oleuropein can boost muscle energy metabolism and exercise performance.

“Our work with muscle biopsies from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study has provided important evidence to support this discovery. We’ve shown that oleuropein improves the function of mitochondria in older people and helps combat muscle fatigue. This closely mirrors results seen in aged mice.

“These exciting results could pave the way for new approaches to prevent sarcopenia.”