What is Hydroxytyrosol?

Hydroxytyrosol is phenolic alcohol, which is considered to be one of the main parts, why olive oil is considered so healthy and therefore so important in Mediterian lifestyle and diet. Scientific research has been highly devoted to explore the high variety of biological activities that hydroxytyrosol possesses like:

• antioxidant
• anti-inflamation
• cardioprotective
• neuroportective
• anti-cancer
• antidiabetic
• and many more

Antioxidative potential of Hydroxytyrosol

Consisting of phenolic parts, Hydroxytyrosol exhibits high antioxidative potential. Scientific research highly emphasizes hydroxytyrosol ability to counteract reactive oxygen species – molecules that are highly responsible for oxidative stress and ageing. 

Apart from direct effects, scientists believe that hydroxytyrosol may promote the body’s self ability to fight off these reactive molecules via several cellular pathways. One of the proposed mechanisms is hydroxytyrosol ability to induce phase II detoxifying enzymes which helps to reduce the reactivity of these reactive molecules and increases the ability of our body to excrete them.

Due to this antioxidative potential, a lot of other health benefits follow.

Hydroxytyrosol for our cardiovascular health

Scientific literature suggests that hydroxytyrosol is a potential treatment for atherosclerosis. Hydroxytyrosol is able to effectively scavenge the reactive oxygen species that might oxidize healthy lipids that are in our bloodstreams like low-density and high-density lipoproteins, cholesterol and others. This oxidation changes the structures of healthy lipids and that causes them to truly sediment out in our blood causing lipid buildup and blockage of blood vessels. Scientists believe that just 5 mg is enough to provide expected health benefits. Another research suggests that hydroxytyrosol may counteract high levels of cholesterol that again could lead to atherosclerosis. 

Anticancer effects of Hydroxytyrosol

In the previous ten years hydroxytyrosol has been highly studied for its ability as an anticancer treatment on in vitro (in lab cells) and in vivo (in living organisms). First of all, hydroxytyrosol, as we previously mentioned, can prevent reactive oxygen species from damaging molecules in our bodies. The same applies to our genetic information, that’s stored in DNA. The reactive species can penetrate DNA and cause mutations leading to the formation of cancer. 

But not only direct effects can be observed in the case of hydroxytyrosol. It has been stated that hydroxytyrosol can promote several cellular pathways for the treatment of cancer like inducing cancer cell death – apoptosis, reducing growth and spread of cancer – antiproliferation and others.

Hydroxytyrosol has been studied for its positive effects on various cancers like:

• colonal
• prostate
• breast
• and more

Can prevent diabetes and promote healthy weight regulation

Research has found that hydroxytyrosol demonstrates hypoglycemic activity by influencing several metabolic pathways that could eventually lead to diabetes. Hydroxytyrosol also improves insulin sensitivity and can restore normal insulin signaling.

Also, by promoting healthy lipid levels in our bloodstream, in cases of a high-fat diet, hydroxytyrosol was able to promote healthier body weight regulation. The same effect is achieved by hydroxytyrosol inhibiting lipogenesis, which leads to new fat cell formation.

Hydroxytyrosol – is a wonderful tool…

Of course, the positive effects of hydroxytyrosol do not only stop there. Anti-inflammatory effects, neuroprotection promoter, fight off microorganisms like bacteria and viruses, osteoprotective effects and many more all of this for you to explore in our store.