New evidence
A daily 30 cc of olive oil significantly reduced pain after heart surgery in a 110-patient trial — but the finding comes from a single study in a specific clinical population.
This is the first solid evidence that olive oil might help with post-surgical pain, but because it's an early result in a narrow group (bypass patients), it's too soon to assume the same benefit applies to everyday pain or to people not recovering from major surgery.
In a randomized trial, patients who consumed 30 cc of olive oil daily from the day before open-heart surgery through 30 days afterward reported significantly less pain than those receiving usual care. The same study also found improved bowel movement frequency, but the results come from a single trial in a clinical setting, so the effect hasn't been tested in broader, healthier populations.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on Olive Oil for Reduced Pain — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- n = 110
- 2025-07-14
- Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
- PubMed: 40642904
- DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2024-0256
- Full study breakdown →
This is a plain-language summary of a research finding, not medical advice. Pillser surfaces research signals to help you decide what's worth investigating — always consult a qualified professional before changing what you take.