Olive Oil and Reduced LDL Cholesterol

Research synthesisLow evidenceSmall effect4 studies · 3 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 4 studies, 3 reported beneficial small-sized effects of olive oil on reducing LDL cholesterol, with 1 neutral finding. Effects were typically observed at 84 days (median study duration), primarily in clinical populations such as individuals with central obesity. The most-studied form was extra virgin olive oil, though formal dose data were limited.

Studied populations: individuals with central obesity, adults at risk of CVD

Caveats: Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Evidence base is small (only 4 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Effect sizes were uniformly small, and one recent meta-analysis found no significant effect on lipid indices when olive oil was supplemented as part of a Mediterranean diet, suggesting potential confounding by overall dietary pattern.

Generated Jul 15, 2026

Time to effect

Median: 2.8 months · IQR 2.8 months–2.8 months · Range 2.8 months–2.8 months — Reported in 1 of 4 studies

4 of 4 papersPopulation:

Diverse impacts of red palm olein, extra virgin coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil on cardiometabolic risk markers in individuals with central obesity: a randomised trial.
- 2024-02-19
- RCT · n = 156
- European journal of nutrition 63(4)
- - Kim-Tiu Teng
  - Radhika Loganathan
  - Boon How Chew
  - Tsung Fei Khang
- PubMed: 38372798
- DOI: 10.1007/s00394-024-03338-6
3 Insights on
- Reduced LDL Cholesterol
- High evidence
- Large Human Trial
- Rigorous Journal
- Clinical
EVOO resulted in significantly lower mean LDL cholesterol compared with RPOO and EVCO, despite similar effects on LDL and HDL cholesterol subfractions.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Dose
isocaloric diets (~2400 kcal) enriched with respective test fats
Health Effects of Various Edible Vegetable Oil: An Umbrella Review.
- 2024-07-23
- Systematic Review · n = 48
- Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) 15(9)
- - Phooi Tee Voon
  - Choon Ming Ng
  - Yen Teng Ng
  - Yen Jun Wong
  - Sia Yen Yap
  - Siew Lian Leong
  - Xiou Shuang Yong
  - Shaun Wen Huey Lee
- PubMed: 39053603
- DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2024.100276
8 Insights on
- Reduced LDL Cholesterol
- High evidence
- Adults
moderate to very low certainty evidence showed that monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids such as canola oil, virgin olive oil, and rice bran oil are beneficial in reducing serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Effect of the Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil versus the Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts on blood pressure and serum lipid indexes among adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- 2025-11
- Meta-Analysis
- Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD 35(11)
- - Behnaz Pourrajab
  - Artemiss Mirdar Harijani
  - Parastoo Asghari
  - Farzad Shidfar
- PubMed: 40651889
- DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2025.104166
7 Insights on
- Reduced LDL Cholesterol
- High evidence
The findings indicated that the MED diet supplemented with olive oil has no significant effect on lipid indices and diastolic blood pressure
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
[Oil and life: The impact of olive oil on human health. A review of the evidence supporting the recommendation for extra virgin olive oil consumption].
- 2025-11
- Review
- Semergen 51(8)
- - J M Rubio López
- PubMed: 40929788
- DOI: 10.1016/j.semerg.2025.102582
11 Insights on
- Reduced LDL Cholesterol
- Low evidence
Rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid, and bioactive compounds like polyphenols and tocopherols, EVOO helps reduce LDL cholesterol, increase HDL cholesterol, and protect against oxidative stress.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes

Olive Oil and Reduced LDL Cholesterol

Diverse impacts of red palm olein, extra virgin coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil on cardiometabolic risk markers in individuals with central obesity: a randomised trial.

Health Effects of Various Edible Vegetable Oil: An Umbrella Review.

Effect of the Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil versus the Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts on blood pressure and serum lipid indexes among adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

[Oil and life: The impact of olive oil on human health. A review of the evidence supporting the recommendation for extra virgin olive oil consumption].