Healthy Adult ParticipantsOLE_Training_1NCT07729072
The Effect of Olive Leaf Extract Supplementation on Training-induced Skeletal Muscle Functional and Molecular Adaptations in Healthy Volunteers
A study testing Olive leaf extract in people with Healthy Adult Participants and Exercise Training, run by University of Lausanne at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of combining olive leaf extract supplementation with endurance training (moderate intensity continuous training or sprint interval training). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Adult Participants, Exercise Training, Neuromuscular Adaptations
- What is being tested?
- Olive leaf extract
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 17 Sep 2026to 31 Dec 2029
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Being between 18 and 45 years old
- Being healthy (assessed through the PAR-Q questionnaire).
- Being physically active, but not involved in any structured training program
- Being available for the study period.
Who cannot join
- If a participant answers positively to any YES/NO question in the PAR-Q health questionnaire. For questions requiring a precision, any positive answer will be reviewed by a medical doctor, who will determine the inclusion/exclusion of the participant.
- Having allergy to xylocaine
- Being pregnant.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Switzerland1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Bâtiment Synathlon, quartier UNIL-Centre
Lausanne, 1015
Nicolas Place, PhD, +41216923806, nicolas.place@unil.ch
Javier Botella, PhD
About this study
The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of combining olive leaf extract supplementation with endurance training (moderate intensity continuous training or sprint interval training). We hypothesize that OLE supplementation during training, as compared to training alone with placebo, will translate into better performance outcomes. More specifically, we hypothesize that the additional benefits of OLE supplementation on performance will be mediated by improved mitochondrial characteristics in skeletal muscle and increased neural activation.
Read the detailed description
Maximal exercise capacity (VO2peak) predicts cardiovascular risk and all-cause mortality. Regular moderate to vigorous physical activity, a key determinant of VO2peak, is essential for an optimal health status of the general population. Thus, strategies that accentuate the health benefits of exercise may have considerable therapeutic benefits. Skeletal muscle Ca2+ handling is a primary determinant of exercise capacity. The regulation of skeletal muscle contraction by Ca2+ is coupled to mitochondrial energy production through a mechanism involving transport across the inner mitochondrial membrane by the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU). Ca2+ entry in the mitochondrial matrix controls Ca2+ -sensitive enzymes, including pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity, a rate-limiting enzyme for glycolysis. Olive leaf extract (OLE) contains ~40% of the natural polyphenol oleuropein and is a potent activator of MCU in skeletal muscle with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The present study will be a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel study in healthy young individuals (18-45 years) consisting of a 3-week endurance training (either moderate intensity continuous training or sprint interval training) period combined with OLE or placebo intake. We will examine the impact of OLE supplementation on maximal exercise capacity, knee extensor neuromuscular function, muscular and blood adaptations. The results of this study will elucidate whether OLE supplementation improves fitness parameters and the molecular mechanisms regulating these adaptations.
- Conditions
- Healthy Adult Participants, Exercise Training, Neuromuscular Adaptations, Nutritional Intervention
- Being tested
- Olive leaf extract, Placebo
- Keywords
- exercise, mitochondria, knee extensors, performance
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Olive leaf extractDietary supplement
A capsule containing 250 mg of an olive leaf extract preparation will be swallowed with a glass of water daily for 21 days.
PlaceboDietary supplement
A capsule containing 336 mg of cellulose microcrystalline will be swallowed with a glass of water daily for 21 days.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Sprint interval training group (SIT group) | Experimental | The model of sprint interval training (SIT) consists of four to six 30 s all-out cycling bouts on a cycle ergometer, with 4 min rests between tests. Three sessions will be performed per week for three weeks. Receives: Dietary Supplement: Olive leaf extract; Dietary Supplement: Placebo |
| Moderate intensity continuous training (MICT group) | Experimental | The moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) consists of 40 to 60 min cycling on a cycle ergometer at 50% of the maximal aerobic power output. Three sessions will be performed per week for three weeks. Receives: Dietary Supplement: Olive leaf extract; Dietary Supplement: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
maximal aerobic power
maximal power (in watts) measured during a graded exercise to failure
Measured: before and after the three-week training period
Secondary outcomes (3)
Maximal oxygen uptake
maximal oxygen uptake (ml/min/kg) measured during a graded exercise until failure
Measured: before and after the three-week training period
Submaximal heart rate and power
heart rate and power measured during submaximal cycling exercise
Measured: before and after the three-week training period
Knee extensor neuromuscular function
maximal voluntary contraction force and maximal voluntary activation level
Measured: before and after the three-week training period
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Jul 2026
- Study start17 Sep 2026
- Primary completion31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Healthy Adult ParticipantsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- The design is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel study.
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Lausanne
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nicolas Place, University of Lausanne
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07729072
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026-00654
- Acronym
- OLE_Training_1
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 8 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Gherardi G, Weiser A, Bermont F, Migliavacca E, Brinon B, Jacot GE, Hermant A, Sturlese M, Nogara L, Vascon F, De Mario A, Mattarei A, Garratt E, Burton M, Lillycrop K, Godfrey KM, Cendron L, Barron D, Moro S, Blaauw B, Rizzuto R, Feige JN, Mammucari C, De Marchi U. Mitochondrial calcium uptake declines during aging and is directly activated by oleuropein to boost energy metabolism and skeletal muscle performance. Cell Metab. 2025 Feb 4;37(2):477-495.e11. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.10.021. Epub 2024 Nov 26.
PubMed 39603237Zanou N, Dridi H, Reiken S, Imamura de Lima T, Donnelly C, De Marchi U, Ferrini M, Vidal J, Sittenfeld L, Feige JN, Garcia-Roves PM, Lopez-Mejia IC, Marks AR, Auwerx J, Kayser B, Place N. Acute RyR1 Ca2+ leak enhances NADH-linked mitochondrial respiratory capacity. Nat Commun. 2021 Dec 10;12(1):7219. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27422-1.
PubMed 34893614Lanfranchi C, Moreno-Asso A, Horstman AMH, Mistro S, Migliavacca E, Cominetti O, Stolte J, Metairon S, Hermant A, Pedersen AL, Dayon L, De Marchi U, Feige JN, Zanou N, Place N. Oleuropein-based olive leaf extract enhances muscle mitochondrial bioenergetics response to moderate - but not maximal - intensity exercise in humans. J Physiol. 2026 May;604(10):3802-3824. doi: 10.1113/JP290316. Epub 2026 Apr 14.
PubMed 41979147
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Olive Leaf Extract Supplementation on Training-induced Skeletal Muscle Functional and Molecular Adaptations in Healthy Volunteers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07729072
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- OLE_Training_1 / 2026-00654
- Conditions
- Healthy Adult Participants, Exercise Training, Neuromuscular Adaptations, Nutritional Intervention
- Keywords
- exercise, mitochondria, knee extensors, performance
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of LausanneUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 17 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 27 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of combining olive leaf extract supplementation with endurance training (moderate intensity continuous training or sprint interval training). We hypothesize that OLE supplementation during training, as compared to training alone with placebo, will translate into better performance outcomes. More specifically, we hypothesize that the additional benefits of OLE supplementation on performance will be mediated by improved mitochondrial characteristics in skeletal muscle and increased neural activation.
Detailed description
Maximal exercise capacity (VO2peak) predicts cardiovascular risk and all-cause mortality. Regular moderate to vigorous physical activity, a key determinant of VO2peak, is essential for an optimal health status of the general population. Thus, strategies that accentuate the health benefits of exercise may have considerable therapeutic benefits. Skeletal muscle Ca2+ handling is a primary determinant of exercise capacity. The regulation of skeletal muscle contraction by Ca2+ is coupled to mitochondrial energy production through a mechanism involving transport across the inner mitochondrial membrane by the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU). Ca2+ entry in the mitochondrial matrix controls Ca2+ -sensitive enzymes, including pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity, a rate-limiting enzyme for glycolysis. Olive leaf extract (OLE) contains ~40% of the natural polyphenol oleuropein and is a potent activator of MCU in skeletal muscle with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The present study will be a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel study in healthy young individuals (18-45 years) consisting of a 3-week endurance training (either moderate intensity continuous training or sprint interval training) period combined with OLE or placebo intake. We will examine the impact of OLE supplementation on maximal exercise capacity, knee extensor neuromuscular function, muscular and blood adaptations. The results of this study will elucidate whether OLE supplementation improves fitness parameters and the molecular mechanisms regulating these adaptations.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- The design is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel study.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Sprint interval training group (SIT group) | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Olive leaf extract, Dietary Supplement: PlaceboThe model of sprint interval training (SIT) consists of four to six 30 s all-out cycling bouts on a cycle ergometer, with 4 min rests between tests. Three sessions will be performed per week for three weeks. |
| Moderate intensity continuous training (MICT group) | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Olive leaf extract, Dietary Supplement: PlaceboThe moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) consists of 40 to 60 min cycling on a cycle ergometer at 50% of the maximal aerobic power output. Three sessions will be performed per week for three weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Being between 18 and 45 years old
- Being healthy (assessed through the PAR-Q questionnaire).
- Being physically active, but not involved in any structured training program
- Being available for the study period.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- If a participant answers positively to any YES/NO question in the PAR-Q health questionnaire. For questions requiring a precision, any positive answer will be reviewed by a medical doctor, who will determine the inclusion/exclusion of the participant.
- Having allergy to xylocaine
- Being pregnant.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Olive leaf extractA capsule containing 250 mg of an olive leaf extract preparation will be swallowed with a glass of water daily for 21 days. | Dietary supplement | Moderate intensity continuous training (MICT group), Sprint interval training group (SIT group) |
| PlaceboA capsule containing 336 mg of cellulose microcrystalline will be swallowed with a glass of water daily for 21 days. | Dietary supplement | Moderate intensity continuous training (MICT group), Sprint interval training group (SIT group) |
Primary outcome
maximal aerobic power
Time frame: before and after the three-week training period
maximal power (in watts) measured during a graded exercise to failure
3 secondary outcomes
Maximal oxygen uptake
Time frame: before and after the three-week training period
Submaximal heart rate and power
Time frame: before and after the three-week training period
Knee extensor neuromuscular function
Time frame: before and after the three-week training period
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Oct 2026.
- Background: PubMed 39603237Gherardi G, Weiser A, Bermont F, Migliavacca E, Brinon B, Jacot GE, Hermant A, Sturlese M, Nogara L, Vascon F, De Mario A, Mattarei A, Garratt E, Burton M, Lillycrop K, Godfrey KM, Cendron L, Barron D, Moro S, Blaauw B, Rizzuto R, Feige JN, Mammucari C, De Marchi U. Mitochondrial calcium uptake declines during aging and is directly activated by oleuropein to boost energy metabolism and skeletal muscle performance. Cell Metab. 2025 Feb 4;37(2):477-495.e11. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.10.021. Epub 2024 Nov 26.
- Background: PubMed 34893614Zanou N, Dridi H, Reiken S, Imamura de Lima T, Donnelly C, De Marchi U, Ferrini M, Vidal J, Sittenfeld L, Feige JN, Garcia-Roves PM, Lopez-Mejia IC, Marks AR, Auwerx J, Kayser B, Place N. Acute RyR1 Ca2+ leak enhances NADH-linked mitochondrial respiratory capacity. Nat Commun. 2021 Dec 10;12(1):7219. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27422-1.
- Background: PubMed 41979147Lanfranchi C, Moreno-Asso A, Horstman AMH, Mistro S, Migliavacca E, Cominetti O, Stolte J, Metairon S, Hermant A, Pedersen AL, Dayon L, De Marchi U, Feige JN, Zanou N, Place N. Oleuropein-based olive leaf extract enhances muscle mitochondrial bioenergetics response to moderate - but not maximal - intensity exercise in humans. J Physiol. 2026 May;604(10):3802-3824. doi: 10.1113/JP290316. Epub 2026 Apr 14.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Olive leaf extract in people with Healthy Adult Participants and Exercise Training, run by University of Lausanne at 1 site in Switzerland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Nicolas Place, PhD (+41216923806, nicolas.place@unil.ch), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
maximal aerobic power (time frame: before and after the three-week training period). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07729072, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Oct 2026.