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Scientific Research

Around the world, scientists are taking a closer look at the naturally occurring polyphenols found in olives and olive oil. Four compounds in particular — hydroxytyrosol, oleacein, oleocanthal and oleuropein — are attracting growing scientific interest, with researchers investigating their properties and biological activity across a wide range of studies.

Olive Mill Water™ contains all four of these naturally occurring polyphenols, bringing the remarkable chemistry of the olive into an entirely new beverage. Explore the fascinating science behind these compounds and discover why researchers around the world are studying them.

Exploring the Science

The Science Behind Olive Polyphenols

Olives contain a remarkable family of naturally occurring compounds known as polyphenols. Among them, hydroxytyrosol, oleacein, oleocanthal and oleuropein have attracted growing scientific attention for their chemical properties and biological activity.

Researchers are investigating these compounds across a diverse range of fields, from cardiovascular and brain research to skin biology, metabolism and cellular processes.

Explore eight areas of scientific investigation below.

01

Bone Health & Research

Researchers are examining olive-derived polyphenols in relation to bone metabolism, mineral density and the biological processes involved in bone formation and breakdown.

02

Skin & Collagen

Laboratory and preclinical research is investigating olive-derived compounds in skin-cell biology, collagen-related pathways and oxidative processes affecting skin tissue.

03

Cardiovascular Research

Human and laboratory studies are examining olive polyphenols in relation to vascular biology, blood lipid markers and endothelial-cell function.

04

Oxidative Stress

Scientists are studying the antioxidant chemistry of olive polyphenols, including their interactions with free radicals and cellular responses to oxidative stress.

05

Metabolism & Body Composition

Research is exploring the relationship between olive-derived compounds and metabolic signalling, energy metabolism and the biological activity of fat cells.

06

Brain & Cognitive Research

Scientists are investigating hydroxytyrosol and related olive compounds in neuronal pathways, brain-cell biology and cognitive research.

07

Gut & Microbiome

Researchers are exploring interactions between olive polyphenols, intestinal microorganisms and the biological processes associated with the digestive system.

08

Inflammatory Pathways

Laboratory and preclinical studies are examining how olive-derived compounds interact with molecular signalling pathways involved in inflammatory responses.

Interested in exploring the science further? Below you'll find 12 published studies investigating olive-derived polyphenols across different research settings.

Further Reading

Explore the Published Research

A selection of 12 published human studies investigating olive-derived polyphenols, including hydroxytyrosol, oleacein and oleocanthal, across different research settings.

01 / HUMAN RESEARCH — 2003

Hydroxytyrosol Absorption

A human study examining the absorption of tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol following single and repeated consumption of virgin olive oil.

Read published study ↗
02 / HUMAN RESEARCH — 2020

Bioavailability & Food Matrices

A human study investigating how different food matrices influence the absorption and metabolism of hydroxytyrosol.

Read published study ↗
03 / HUMAN RESEARCH — 2023

Hydroxytyrosol in Aqueous Preparations

A controlled human study examining the absorption and metabolism of hydroxytyrosol from olive-derived aqueous supplements and fortified olive oil.

Read published study ↗
04 / HUMAN RESEARCH — 2015

Olive Polyphenols & Bone Research

A randomised human study examining an olive-derived extract in relation to bone turnover markers and other measurements in women with low bone mass.

Read published study ↗
05 / HUMAN RESEARCH — 2005

Olive Phenolics & Oxidative Markers

A controlled crossover study investigating olive oil phenolic content, compound absorption and selected oxidative stress markers in healthy volunteers.

Read published study ↗
06 / HUMAN RESEARCH — 2025

Hydroxytyrosol & Antioxidant Research

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examining hydroxytyrosol supplementation and selected antioxidant, oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in 49 participants who completed the study.

Read published study ↗
07 / HUMAN RESEARCH — 2023

Oleacein & Oleocanthal

The APRIL study, a randomised crossover trial involving 91 participants, investigated olive oil rich in oleacein and oleocanthal and its relationship with inflammatory and oxidative stress markers.

Read published study ↗
08 / HUMAN RESEARCH — 2022

Olive Polyphenols & Antioxidant Status

The Australian OLIVAUS trial compared high- and low-polyphenol extra virgin olive oils, examining antioxidant capacity, oxidised LDL and inflammatory biomarkers.

Read published study ↗
09 / HUMAN RESEARCH — 2006

Olive Polyphenols & Cardiovascular Markers

The multicentre EUROLIVE trial investigated olive oils containing different concentrations of polyphenols and measured selected blood lipid and oxidative stress-related markers.

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10 / HUMAN RESEARCH — 2016

Olive Polyphenols & Gut Biology

A randomised, controlled crossover trial examining phenol-enriched olive oils, intestinal immune function and interactions with the gut microbiota.

Read published study ↗
11 / HUMAN RESEARCH — 2022

Olive Polyphenols & Exercise

Human research investigating an olive fruit water preparation rich in hydroxytyrosol, examining bioavailability and markers of exercise-induced oxidative stress in physically active adults.

Read published study ↗
12 / HUMAN RESEARCH — 2026

Oleacein, Oleocanthal & Metabolism

The OleoMetS randomised controlled trial investigated an olive polyphenol extract rich in oleacein and oleocanthal, examining glucose, lipid and other metabolic markers in 102 participants.

Read published study ↗
About the research: These publications examine olive-derived compounds and preparations, not Olive Mill Water itself. Research includes different formulations, doses and study populations. The findings do not establish that consuming Olive Mill Water produces the biological effects investigated.

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