Is High Phenolic Olive Oil a Nutraceutical? The Real Answer
People often ask whether High Phenolic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (HP-EVOO) can be called a nutraceutical.
The short answer is:
No — HP-EVOO is not a nutraceutical.
But the phenolic compounds within it have been studied for biological activities often discussed in nutraceutical science.
This distinction is essential for clarity and accuracy.
What a “nutraceutical” actually means
In many jurisdictions (including Health Canada and the FDA), a nutraceutical is not a casual or descriptive term. It is a regulated classification requiring:
- product licensing
- safety and efficacy data
- controlled manufacturing
- registration and approval
HP-EVOO is a food, not a licensed natural health product.
Therefore, it cannot be described as a nutraceutical.
What we can say — accurately and safely — is this:
Certain phenolic compounds naturally present in High Phenolic EVOO show biological activities that are nutraceutical-like in the scientific literature.
Those compounds include hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol derivatives such as oleocanthal, oleacein, oleuropein aglycone, and ligstroside aglycone.
The oil itself is not the active agent — the phenolic compounds are
USDA researcher Dr. Nasir Malik has repeatedly clarified that:
“The beneficial properties people attribute to olive oil do not come from the oil itself, but from the phenolic compounds it contains.”
This aligns with every modern analysis of HP-EVOO:
The biological interest lies in the phenols, not the fat matrix.
What the science supports
Phenolic compounds — not olive oil as a whole — have been shown to:
- modulate inflammatory pathways
- influence oxidative stress balance
- support metabolic and cellular signalling mechanisms
- affect neurological and immune-related pathways
But again, this is not grounds for classifying olive oil as a nutraceutical.
Why some researchers call HP-EVOO a “medicinal food”
Researchers such as Dr. Amal Kaddoumi use the term medicinal food to highlight that HP-EVOO contains naturally occurring bioactive compounds, not to imply that the oil is a regulated therapeutic.
This phrase is descriptive, not regulatory.
The EU Health Claim: another misunderstood point
The EFSA claim (432/2012) refers to:
“Hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, and oleurpein complex derivatives.”
This wording is often misinterpreted.
In fresh, high-quality HP EVOO:
- the predominant active biophenols derived from hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, and oleuropein complex released during malaxation are
- Oleocanthal, Oleacein, Ligstoside Aglycone, and Oleueopein Aglycone.
-
NOT free hydroxytyrosol or free tyrosol
- free hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol increase only when oil degrades
Thus:
✔️ The phenolic compounds are the key functional components.
✔️ They are used as markers of oil quality — not as nutraceutical ingredients.
The accurate conclusion
High Phenolic EVOO is not a nutraceutical.
However:
It is a food naturally rich in phenolic compounds that are scientifically studied for their biological activities. These phenols — not the oil — are responsible for the functions people associate with HP EVOO.
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Note: The reason we are so specific about these definitions and claims is in response to the growing amount of misleading information and/or outrageous, unsubstantiated claims about High Phenolic EVOO.
Health is a personal journey and accurate knowledge allows you to make qualified and informed decisions for your overall wellbeing and that of your loved ones.
If you are on medication or under doctor's care, always inform your health professional when you add HP EVOO to your daily regimen.
If you want to know more check out here. Precision Wellness