Supplements · Metabolic & Cardiometabolic
olive oil decreases blood pressure
In plain terms: Does olive oil lower blood pressure?
Part of: • Olive oil
Only a little, and only sometimes. High-polyphenol olive oil (or the whole Mediterranean diet) can nudge the top blood-pressure number down a few points, but several strong trials find no real effect from olive oil alone. Don't expect it to replace blood-pressure treatment.
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: All trials, pooled (Meta-analysis)
How the studies fall
What the evidence shows
The blood-pressure evidence is **mixed and phenolic-dependent**. Trials using *high-polyphenol* olive oil (or the whole Mediterranean diet) tend to show a small drop in systolic pressure — a few mmHg — but several well-powered meta-analyses of olive oil as a food find **no significant effect on blood pressure at all**, and some head-to-head trials show none. The plausible mechanism (better endothe
The evidence (12)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morvaridzadeh M et al. 2023 · Pharmacol Res | meta-analysis | contradicts | high | Meta 33 RCTs (2,020): EVOO no significant BP effect (did lower insulin/HOMA-IR). |
| Schwingshackl L et al. 2019 · Nutrients | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | Network meta 13 RCTs: high/low-phenolic EVOO lowered SBP ~2.9 mmHg vs refined; no DBP difference. |
| Ferrara LA et al. 2000 · Arch Intern Med | RCT | supports | low | Crossover RCT (23 hypertensives): EVOO diet lowered BP vs PUFA; cut antihypertensive dose 48%. |
| Morris C et al. 2026 · Nutrients | RCT | tested-null | low | RCT (27): 40 g/d EVOO vs sunflower oil in healthy women, no BP difference. |
| Keshani M et al. 2024 · Front Nutr | meta-analysis | contradicts | moderate | Meta 18 RCTs: MedDiet+olive oil no significant BP effect; only triglycerides reduced (whole-Med). |
| George ES et al. 2019 · Ageing Res Rev | meta-analysis | mixed | moderate | SR+meta 26 studies: high-vs-low-polyphenol olive oil improved lipids/oxLDL; BP only in subgroups. |
| McNabb B et al. 2024 · Nutrients | meta-analysis | contradicts | high | Meta 17 RCTs: no significant effect of olive/flaxseed oil on SBP or DBP. |
| Rees K et al. 2019 · Cochrane Database Syst Rev | meta-analysis | supports | high | Cochrane: MedDiet+EVOO/nuts SBP -2.99, DBP -2.0 mmHg vs minimal intervention (whole-Med). |
| Hohmann CD et al. 2015 · Phytomedicine | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | Meta 8 crossover RCTs: high-phenolic olive oil lowered SBP (SMD -0.52); no DBP effect. |
| Pourrajab B et al. 2025 · Clin Nutr ESPEN | meta-analysis | mixed | moderate | Meta 21 trials: olive oil vs nuts no DBP difference; olive oil slightly higher SBP than nuts (comparative). |
| Frumuzachi O et al. 2025 · Nutrients | meta-analysis | tested-null | moderate | Meta 14 studies: olive-oil phenolics lowered TC/TG/insulin; BP not moved in pooled estimate. |
| Toledo E et al. 2013 · BMC Med | RCT | supports | high | PREDIMED (7,447): MedDiet+EVOO DBP -1.53 mmHg vs control; no SBP difference. |
Disagree, or know a study we missed?
We grade by evidence, not opinions. The way to weigh in is to point us to a study we haven't cited (check the evidence table above first), or to flag a problem with one we have. Every submission is reviewed; if it holds up, the grade updates and shows in Science Changes Its Mind.
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Educational only, not medical advice. Grades and scores reflect published evidence weighted by study design and quality; see the methodology.