Effect of Oleuropein-based olive leaf extract supplementation on the transcriptomic response to moderate and intense exercise in human

Sprint interval exercise (SIE) and moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) both induce mitochondrial adaptations in skeletal muscle but likely via distinct molecular responses. Oleuropein from olive leaf extract (OLE) has been shown to promote mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activation, suggesting a potential interaction with exercise-induced mitochondrial signaling. In a randomized, double-blind crossover study, healthy males performed either MICE or SIE with or without OLE supplementation. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were collected before, immediately after, and 24 h post-exercise. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that OLE significantly modulated exercise-induced gene expression responses, particularly pathways related to mitochondrial function and inflammation, following both MICE and SIE. These molecular effects occurred despite limited functional changes and were accompanied by increased PDH activity only after MICE.