A team of researchers from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has discovered that a natural compound—elenolic acid—can aid in the fight against obesity and type 2 diabetes.
After just one week of treatment, elenolic acid reduced blood sugar levels in test mice even more effectively than some of the most potent medications available.
What the Researchers Learned
“Lifestyle changes and public health measures have had limited impact on the rising prevalence of obesity, one of the main risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes,” said Dunmin Liu, a dietitian and lead author of the study. She noted that existing obesity medications are often ineffective, expensive, and/or carry potential health risks for patients. Therefore, the team set out to develop “safer, cheaper, and more convenient multi-purpose medications that could prevent metabolic disorders and type 2 diabetes.”
In a previous study on laboratory mice, Liu’s team found that elenolic acid stimulates the release of two metabolic hormones that signal when we should stop eating, essentially informing the brain about satiety.
One of these hormones is glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which, like some popular medications, regulates blood sugar levels and suppresses hunger. The other, a lesser-known peptide called peptide YY (PYY), released by intestinal cells, controls appetite at the end of a meal, as reported by Science Alert.
Previous research on mouse models showed that even a single dose of concentrated elenolic acid stimulates the secretion of GLP-1 and PYY.
In the new study, Dunmin Liu and her colleague Hanna Alhalidi administered elenolic acid orally to mice with type 2 diabetes and obesity induced by an unhealthy diet. (Details regarding the dosage, concentration, frequency, duration of treatment, and the number of mice involved in the experiments have not yet been disclosed.)
Just one week after starting treatment, the mice weighed significantly less and had more stable blood sugar levels compared to before and in comparison to mice with the same conditions that did not receive elenolic acid.
The researchers noted that, unlike advertised medications, elenolic acid prompts the body to produce more of its own metabolic hormones.
“Overall, the study showed that elenolic acid from olives has a promising effect on hormone production and metabolism, especially in individuals suffering from obesity and diabetes,” said Dongmin Liu.
“It seems that this compound mimics the physiological conditions of food intake, directly stimulating the secretion of metabolic hormones from the gut, which helps regulate energy balance and metabolic health,” she added.
Researchers Need Human Trials for Elenolic Acid
Elenolic acid is found in extra virgin olive oil and ripe olives (Olea europaea). However, it can also be obtained more cheaply by breaking down oleuropein, which is present in the skin and pulp of olives, as well as in the leaves and seeds of the plant.
Researchers understand that it is unlikely for a person to consume the necessary amount of olives or drink enough extra virgin oil to achieve the effects observed in the experiment. Moreover, oleuropein is intentionally removed from most olive products due to its bitter taste.
Thus, scientists will not know how concentrated elenolic acid affects humans until further trials are conducted. Currently, the team is studying the impact of elenolic acid on metabolism by tracking the compound’s pathway in the body. This will provide researchers with valuable information about its safety for future clinical trials.
The results of the study were presented at the recent NUTRITION 2024 conference in Chicago.