CreaSol SSAT: MolTek Nutrition Unveils CreaSol SSAT (Tyrosol) as the New Creatine Enhancer

Tyrosol, the olive oil compound now enhancing creatine’s effects! MolTek’s new CreaSol SSAT shows 28% better strength and 51% greater endurance when paired with creatine.

In the world of sports nutrition, breakthroughs often arise from revisiting the fundamentals and enhancing them with innovative science. Few compounds have as rich a history in human health as tyrosol — yet most aren’t even familiar with it!

Tyrosol: From Mediterranean Diet Driver to Novel Creatine Enhancer

Tyrosol is a powerful phenolic compound, found naturally in extra virgin olive oil and wine, has been a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet for millennia.^[1] Now, thanks to groundbreaking research and innovative formulation technology, a stabilized form of tyrosol called CreaSol SSAT is poised to revolutionize how athletes and weightlifters approach their supplement regimens — especially with respect to creatine.

CreaSol SSAT is the patent-pending ingredient set to elevate tyrosol to the mainstream, where MolTek Nutrition harnesses its unique properties through their Sustained Solubility and Absorption Technology. This stabilized form of tyrosol isn’t just another antioxidant – it’s specifically developed to enhance the effects of creatine, the most well-researched ergogenic aid in sports nutrition, helping to provide clean and sustained energy.

Recent research has shown that CreaSol SSAT plays a fascinating dual role in human performance: Not only does tyrosol function as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound,^[2] but MolTek’s internal data also demonstrates remarkable capabilities in enhancing creatine’s effects on muscle strength and endurance.

A powerful dual-role ingredient… found in Rhodiola’s salidroside

Interestingly, the tyrosol molecule is even found in salidroside, the popular Rhodiola constituent, which merely has tyrosol bound to a glucose molecule!

Molecular structures revealing tyrosol’s relationship to salidroside – the popular Rhodiola component is simply tyrosol attached to a glucose molecule. This explains why many benefits attributed to Rhodiola supplements may actually come from the tyrosol portion of the molecule.^[3]

So, many of Rhodiola’s salidroside-based benefits may actually be attributed to tyrosol itself!

In this article, we’ll explore how CreaSol SSAT works, examining the science behind its synergy with creatine, and uncovering the additional health benefits that make this compound so promising for athletes and health enthusiasts alike. From its effects on cellular energy production to its impact on recovery and performance, we’ll break down everything you need to know about this innovative tyrosol-based ingredient.

Before diving into CreaSol SSAT’s novel technology, it’s important to understand tyrosol itself:

What is Tyrosol?

Tyrosol is a phenolic molecule with the chemical name of 4-hydroxyphenylethanol — it belongs to a class of compounds called phenylethyl alcohols.^[4] Its structure is remarkably simple yet effective — it has both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, supporting its diverse biochemical and physiological effects.

What makes tyrosol so interesting is its presence in some of our oldest and most cherished foods. It’s most abundant in extra virgin olive oil, where it exists both in its free form and bound to more complex molecules,^[5] where it’s a key contributor to olive oil’s health-promoting effects. Tyrosol is also present in both red and white wines, where it’s formed during the fermentation process,^[6] and may also support some of wine’s beneficial properties.

Tyrosol is also naturally produced in the body through tyramine metabolism.^[4]

Tyrosol and Its Relative, Hydroxytyrosol

Tyrosol’s close chemical cousin and metabolite hydroxytyrosol has traditionally received more attention due to its more potent direct antioxidant properties.^[4] However, recent research has revealed that tyrosol’s biological effects go well beyond simple antioxidant activity. Despite having relatively weaker direct antioxidant properties, tyrosol still demonstrates great abilities to enhance cellular antioxidant defenses and modulate inflammatory pathways,^[2] some of which are covered in this article.

Multiple Antioxidant Pathways

Tyrosol activates endogenous antioxidant pathways, such as increasing glutathione levels, which helps to neutralize oxidative stress at the cellular level.^[7] Additionally, it exerts anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, notably in endothelial and muscle cells.^[2,8]

ATP Production Enhancement, Protective Brain Effects, and More

As we’ll discuss in detail, tyrosol has been shown to increase ATP production through effects on mitochondrial function. Research demonstrates that it helps prevent ATP reduction in stressed muscle cells.^[9] It can also support oxygen transport capacity in brain tissue, with a study showing a 5-7% improvement in oxygen transport capacity index compared to controls.^[10]

There are also cardiovascular system benefits demonstrated in humans,^[11] including nitric oxide support and more.^[12]

But most applicable for athletes and fitness enthusiasts is that MolTek Nutrition’s CreaSol SSAT has recently been shown to enhance cellular creatine utilization and promote sustained exercise energy in new (yet unpublished) university data!^[13] This unique property, combined with its other well-documented health benefits, makes tyrosol an extremely exciting compound for both performance and general wellness.

High Bioavailability, Absorption, and Conversion

Tyrosol also has an impressive bioavailability and absorption profile. Unlike many polyphenols that struggle to reach systemic circulation, it’s readily absorbed in the small intestine^[14] and can accumulate in cells over time.^[4]

Once absorbed, tyrosol can be partially converted to hydroxytyrosol,^[15] offering a “best of both worlds” scenario, given hydroxytyrosol’s additional potent antioxidative properties. This allows systemic effects of both molecules, such as cardiovascular and neuroprotective benefits, to be realized even at moderate dietary intakes.^[11]

Tyrosol Content, Stability, and Absorption in Olive Oil

The tyrosol content in olive oil varies considerably, with concentrations typically ranging from 2.38 to 18.0 mg per 100g of oil.^[16,17] Refined and mild-flavored olive oils contained significantly lower amounts than extra virgin varieties.^[17]

Additionally, tyrosol shows great stability during thermal treatment, with one study finding only a 16% reduction in content even after extended heating at 60°C for 63 days.^[16] This stability makes tyrosol a reliable bioactive compound in olive oil compared to other phenolic compounds that degrade more rapidly.

Finally, a study measuring tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol’s ingestion via olive oil showed that about 75-80% of the tyrosol inside is absorbed and metabolized.^[18] This is clearly a molecule that the body enjoys taking advantage of.

Tyrosol Summed Up

In summary, tyrosol is a phenolic compound with a straightforward chemical structure but phenomenal physiological effects – especially when we start looking at creatine and ATP. Its natural occurrence in olive oil and wine, coupled with its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and bioavailable properties, make it a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet’s health-promoting reputation. Beyond that, its ability to metabolize into hydroxytyrosol provides a dual role as both an active compound and a precursor to even greater bioactivity.

The general health benefits are great, but Moltek Nutrition’s taking it to a whole new branch of science: creatine supplementation support! Let’s cover CreaSol SSAT’s new research in this space, discuss tyrosol’s other health benefits, and then we’ll get back to what makes CreaSol SSAT different from standard tyrosol.

Tyrosol Research: CreaSol SSAT’s Benefits

The research supporting CreaSol SSAT stems from several studies investigating tyrosol’s bioactivity in both cell culture and animal models, as well as one published human clinical trial and more along the way.

While tyrosol’s mechanisms as an antioxidant have been well-documented in recent research,^[8] MolTek Nutrition has focused their research on how it interacts with and enhances creatine’s effects, so let’s start there:

• Enhanced Creatine Effects: Strength and Endurance Preservation (2024)

  The data on CreaSol SSAT comes from pre-clinical research demonstrating its synergistic effects with creatine supplementation. In a University-conducted controlled mouse study, the combination of CreaSol SSAT combined with creatine showed extremely impressive results compared to creatine alone in the final of four consecutive exhaustive swimming tests:^[3]

  

  This graph demonstrates tyrosol’s impressive ability to protect muscle cells from oxidative damage. At higher concentrations (100μM), tyrosol preserved over 80% cell viability against hydrogen peroxide stress, showing why it’s valuable for muscle performance and recovery.^[9]

  • A 28.1% greater improvement in muscle strength compared to creatine alone
  • A 51.5% greater improvement in endurance compared to creatine alone
  • Compared to control groups, the combination of CreaSol SSAT with creatine yielded even more dramatic results:
    • 82.5% greater strength improvements
    • 205.4% greater endurance improvements

  Creatine is already known to outperform placebo in numerous metrics, but these numbers are astonishing. Combining them with creatine’s universally-accepted physical performance benefits, these results are nothing short of staggering!

  Reduced Decline in Consecutive Training Sessions

  What makes these findings additionally impressive is that CreaSol SSAT also works by preventing strength and endurance decline during consecutive exercise sessions.

  When testing grip strength and exhaustive swimming tests over multiple days, the creatine-only group showed significant performance decreases (by 10.76%, 16.19%, and 23.9% in three consecutive tests). However, the CreaSol SSAT plus creatine group maintained consistent performance levels, with strength measures remaining at 97.52%, 98.94%, and 97.04% of baseline through three consecutive tests!^[13]

  This maintenance effect also extended to endurance capacity – while the creatine-only group saw a 17.2% reduction in performance over repeated tests, the combination group showed only a minimal 3.74% decline.^[13]

  

  Data showing CreaSol SSAT’s ability to preserve grip strength across multiple trials, especially when combined with creatine monohydrate. While control subjects experienced significant strength decreases (from 340 to 220 grams), the combination of CreaSol and creatine maintained consistent strength levels near 400 grams throughout all four trials.^[13]

  A 60-person randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human study investigating these effects is currently underway, with results expected in 2025. This article will be updated when those results are published.

  

  Graph showing how CreaSol SSAT dramatically improves endurance time across multiple trials compared to control. When combined with creatine monohydrate (CM), the synergistic effect provides remarkable performance sustainability even in the 4th trial, demonstrating how tyrosol helps prevent performance decline during consecutive exercise sessions.^[13]

• Exercise-Related Benefits: ATP, Muscle Protection, and Thermogenic Support

  While the creatine synergy effects of CreaSol SSAT are impressive, research has uncovered a few powerful mechanisms showing how it supports exercise performance:

  • ATP Production Enhancement

    The powerful ATP molecule is essential for cellular energy production and muscle performance. Research has shown that tyrosol effectively prevents ATP reduction in muscle cells and protects muscle cells from oxidative damage under stress conditions.^[9] Studies have also shown that tyrosol can cross the blood-brain-barrier^[19,20] and increase oxygen transport capacity in the brain,^[10] potentially supporting cognitive function and performance (cognitive and neuroprotective benefits are discussed in a section below).

    

    Graph showing tyrosol’s remarkable ability to maintain ATP levels in stressed cells. At 100μM concentration, tyrosol helps restore ATP production that would otherwise be severely depleted, explaining its synergy with creatine for maintaining energy during intense exercise.^[9]

    This applies to MolTek Nutrition’s university data study cited above,^[13] as creatine greatly supports ATP production. Tyrosol’s ability to prevent ATP loss goes hand-in-hand with creatine’s well-documented ATP-based benefits, making CreaSol SSAT an exciting synergistic compound for both performance and overall wellness.

    The ATP and muscle cell protection study is worth diving into on its own:

  • ATP Protection and Muscle Cell Preservation: Insights from Lee et al (2018)

    This groundbreaking study was published in Food Science and Technology Research, demonstrating tyrosol’s remarkable ability to protect muscle cells and preserve ATP production under oxidative stress conditions.^[9]

    Study Design and Methods

    Researchers used L6 muscle cells (a standard model for studying muscle tissue) and tested tyrosol’s protective effects against hydrogen peroxide, which induces oxidative stress. The study included several key measurements, including cell survival rates, ATP production under stressed conditions, and microscopic analysis of cell preservation.

    Key Results

    The study revealed several significant benefits of tyrosol supplementation:^[9]

    • Dose-Dependent Protection: Tyrosol showed increasingly protective effects at higher concentrations:
      • 22.3% protection at 1μM
      • 33.1% protection at 30μM
      • 58.3% protection at 100μM
    • ATP Preservation: Tyrosol effectively prevented ATP reduction in stressed muscle cells, with the 100μM dose showing the most significant benefits
    • Visual Confirmation: Microscopic imaging revealed that tyrosol-treated cells maintained better structural integrity compared to control groups exposed to oxidative stress
    

    Microscopic images revealing how tyrosol preserves muscle cell structure and integrity under oxidative stress. The comparison clearly shows damaged cells in panel C versus the maintained cellular structure in panel D with tyrosol treatment, visually confirming its protective capabilities.^[9]

    Practical Implications

    This research provides strong evidence for tyrosol’s muscle-protective capabilities, thanks to its direct protective effects on muscle tissue and preservation of cellular energy (ATP) production. It also confirmed cell survival benefits at supplemental concentrations, suggesting that tyrosol could help maintain muscle cell integrity during intense exercise — which ended up playing out in MolTek Nutrition’s University research.

    These results help explain why CreaSol SSAT shows such promising effects when combined with creatine – both compounds work to maintain cellular energy systems and protect muscle tissue during intense activity.

    There’s much more to tyrosol than creatine and ATP, though. Our next section on overall metabolic health may also indirectly support performance and well-being:

• Metabolic Health Benefits: Support for Weight Management, Liver Function, and Gut Health

  As research on tyrosol continues to expand, scientists are discovering that this olive oil compound provides metabolic support that extends well beyond its strength and endurance benefits. These effects center around healthy weight management through multiple mechanisms.

  • Tyrosol’s Metabolic Effects: Insights from Li et al. (2022)

    One of the most compelling studies investigating tyrosol’s metabolic benefits comes from Li and colleagues, who conducted a controlled trial exploring tyrosol’s effects on weight management and metabolic health.^[21]

    Study Design and Methods

    Researchers supplemented mice with 0.2% tyrosol (weight/weight in diet) for 16 weeks – equivalent to about 16mg/kg body weight in humans – not a massive amount. The study included three groups:

    • Low-fat diet control group
    • High-fat diet (HFD) group
    • High-fat diet + tyrosol group

    Throughout the study, researchers monitored body weight changes, food intake, core body temperature, changes in liver / fat tissue, and blood markers like triglycerides, cholesterol, and glucose.

    Key Results

    The tyrosol-supplemented group showed several significant improvements compared to the HFD group:^[21]

    

    Comprehensive data showing how tyrosol supplementation reduces body weight gain on high-fat diets, improves liver and fat tissue metrics, and increases core body temperature. This multi-panel graph demonstrates tyrosol’s remarkable metabolic benefits beyond just sports performance.^[21]

    • Significantly lower final body weight (31.68g vs 34.14g)
    • Reduced liver weight and fat mass
    • Lower blood triglycerides, total cholesterol, and fasting glucose
    • Better liver enzyme profiles (lower AST and ALT levels)
    • Smaller fat cell size in both types of white adipose tissue
    • Improved core body temperature
    • Better gut health diversity

    Importantly, these benefits occurred without changes in food intake or energy consumption between the HFD and HFD + tyrosol groups.^[21]

    Practical Takeaways

    This research demonstrates that tyrosol supplementation may:

    • Support healthy weight management
    • Help maintain healthy blood lipid levels
    • Promote metabolic health
    • Support liver function
    • Improve gut microbiota diversity
    

    The molecular structure of tyrosol, showing its straightforward phenolic composition with hydroxyl groups that give it both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. This deceptively simple compound is the fundamental unit found in olive oil and is responsible for many of its health benefits.^[9]

    Human research detailed below verifies many of the lipid biomarker results as well.

    Ultimately, tyrosol can influence metabolic function and energy expenditure.^[21]

    While the exact mechanisms behind these effects are complex and discussed in detail later in this article, this study provides strong evidence for tyrosol’s potential as a metabolic health supplement, going beyond its effects on creatine utilization and exercise performance.

  • Tyrosol Shows Promise Against Diet-Induced Fatty Liver (Wang 2024)

    In early 2024, researchers published a study demonstrating tyrosol’s ability to improve liver health in diet-challenged mice.^[22]

    Study Design and Methods

    Scientists divided male mice into three groups:

    • Low-fat diet control group (LFD)
    • High-fat diet group (HFD)
    • High-fat diet plus tyrosol group (TYR) – supplemented with 0.025% tyrosol

    The researchers ran the study for 16 weeks, analyzing numerous metabolic markers and conducting several tests to assess liver health and overall metabolism. This was an even smaller dosage than the study above, making it even more realistic to our dosing considerations.

    Key Results

    After 16 weeks of intervention, the tyrosol-supplemented group showed several significant improvements compared to the high-fat diet group:^[22]

    

    Microscopic evidence showing tyrosol’s ability to decrease fat buildup in liver and adipose tissues. The striking visual comparison demonstrates how tyrosol helps maintain healthier tissue structure even during high-fat feeding, with quantified results showing significant improvements.^[21]

    • Reduced final body weight
    • Lower liver weight
    • Decreased fat mass and fat tissue weight
    • Better blood lipid profiles, including lower triglycerides and cholesterol
    • Improved liver enzyme profiles and overall liver health
    • Enhanced cellular antioxidant defenses and reduced inflammatory markers
    • Better glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity
    • Greater metabolic flexability

    This research represents some of the strongest evidence to date supporting tyrosol’s metabolic benefits, especially with respect to liver health and body composition. The mechanisms behind these effects are discussed in detail below.

    These results clearly demonstrate tyrosol’s potential as a powerful supplement ingredient for supporting healthy metabolism — not just a creatine booster.

  • Mood Enhancement: Research from Gabbia et al (2024)

    In early 2024, another team of researchers published a dual-pronged study demonstrating tyrosol’s ability to improve several aspects of liver health while also positively affecting mood and behavior.^[23]

    

    Advanced 3D multicellular spheroid model showing tyrosol’s effects on liver tissue function. The detailed imaging and quantification demonstrate tyrosol’s ability to reduce fat accumulation while beneficially modulating immune cell markers, providing insights into its whole-tissue effects.^[23]

    Study Design and Methods

    Scientists investigated tyrosol using multiple approaches:

    • In vitro cellular models analyzing fatty acid accumulation, oxidative stress, and liver cell interactions
    • An in vivo mouse model of NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis)
    • Comprehensive behavioral testing to assess mood and physical performance

    The researchers used both cellular and animal models to get a complete picture of tyrosol’s effects on liver health and overall wellness.

    Key Results

    The study revealed several significant benefits of tyrosol supplementation:^[23]

    • Reduced lipid (fat) accumulation in liver cells
    • Decreased inflammatory signaling
    • Improved mitochondrial function
    • Enhanced physical performance metrics
    • Better mood and reduced anxiety-like behaviors

    Most notably, tyrosol showed remarkable abilities to support healthy inflammatory response in liver tissue while maintaining proper liver enzyme activity, improve coordination and physical endurance, and reduce anxiety-related behaviors in standardized tests.^[23]

    

    Liver tissue sections showing how tyrosol supplementation dramatically reduces fat buildup in the NASH model. The striking visual difference between the middle panel (fatty liver) and bottom panel (tyrosol-treated) is supported by quantitative measurements showing significant reductions in steatosis markers.^[23]

    While metabolic research is still unfolding, this study’s effects leads us directly to the next section — neuroprotection from tyrosol:

• Neuroprotective Effects

  The brain, using approximately 20% of the body’s oxygen while only weighing 2% of total body mass, is highly susceptible to oxidative stress. While early research behind tyrosol comes from studying the effects of olive oil and Mediterranean diet, researchers have begun isolating this powerful phenolic compound to better understand its direct neuroprotective properties.

  A review published in 2015 revealed several important findings about tyrosol’s ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and support brain health and protect neurons,^[20] and research has continued to grow our knowledge, with another excellent review published in 2021.^[24]

  Below are some key preclinical studies worth understanding:

  

  Comprehensive diagram showing tyrosol and its related compounds found in olive oil. The chart displays various glycosides and esters including salidroside, ligstroside, and oleacanthal, revealing the complexity of olive oil’s bioactive phenolic profile beyond simple tyrosol.^[4]

  • Cellular Protection Demonstrated in Dewapriya 2013

    One of the landmark studies demonstrating tyrosol’s protective effects was conducted by Dewapriya and colleagues in 2013, who investigated how the compound could protect dopaminergic neurons against oxidative stress-induced death.^[25]

    Study Design and Methods

    The researchers used CATH.a cells (mouse brain-derived catecholaminergic neurons) exposed to MPP+, a neurotoxin that induces cellular stress by disrupting mitochondrial function. This model is frequently used to study neuroprotective compounds. The team tested multiple concentrations of tyrosol against this stressor.

    They measured cell survival rates, mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP levels, and various cellular stress markers.

    Results and Findings

    The data showed that tyrosol provided remarkable protection in several ways:

    • Dose-dependent protection against cell death, with the highest concentration of tyrosol maintaining over 70% cell viability compared to just 20% in unprotected cells
    • Significant preservation of cellular ATP levels
    • Strong maintenance of mitochondrial membrane potential
    • Protection remained strong even after 48 hours of exposure

    Most notably, tyrosol’s protective effects became more pronounced over time, suggesting it works through sustainable mechanisms rather than just quick, temporary effects. This time-dependent action matches what we see in CreaSol SSAT’s persistent benefits in athletic performance, and aligns perfectly with creatine’s long-term usage strategies.

  

  Western blot analysis showing tyrosol’s ability to dramatically reduce cleaved caspase-3, a key marker of cell death. This mechanism helps explain how tyrosol maintains cellular health during intense exercise and oxidative stress, supporting muscle preservation during hard training.^[9]

  • Neuroprotective Effects: Key Research from De La Cruz et al. (2015)

    Key research from De La Cruz and colleagues in 2015 compared the neuroprotective capabilities of tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol using a unique pharmacological approach.^[26]

    Study Design and Methods

    Researchers employed a rat model to evaluate how these compounds protect brain tissue during periods of low oxygen (hypoxia) followed by reoxygenation – a common model used to simulate various types of brain stress. The study design included several clever elements:^[26]

    • Used three compounds with varying numbers of hydroxyl (OH) groups:
      • Hydroxytyrosol ethyl ether (HTEE) – 2 OH groups
      • Tyrosol ethyl ether (TEE) – 1 OH group
      • A control compound (MHTEE) – 0 OH groups
    • Administered doses of 10mg/kg and 20mg/kg orally for 7 days
    • Measured multiple markers of brain health and damage
    • Used brain slice testing to simulate oxygen deprivation and recovery

    Key Results

    The study revealed several important findings about tyrosol’s benefits:^[26]

    • All three compounds showed significant neuroprotective effects at both doses
    • Brain protection was demonstrated through reduced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, a key marker of cellular damage
    • Tyrosol (with one hydroxyl group) demonstrated impressive efficacy despite having weaker direct antioxidant properties than hydroxytyrosol
    

    Microscopic evidence showing tyrosol’s ability to maintain healthier liver and adipose tissue structure while reducing inflammatory markers. The dramatic difference between the tyrosol-treated and high-fat diet tissues demonstrates how this olive oil compound supports whole-body health beyond just exercise performance.^[22]

    Study Implications

    This research demonstrated several critical points about tyrosol’s capabilities:^[26]

    • Protection possible through multiple pathways, not just antioxidant mechanisms
    • Effectiveness at relatively low doses
    • Ability to work through various biochemical pathways

    This led the community to believe there’s potential for synergistic effects when combined with other compounds, as tyrosol appears to work through multiple complementary pathways.

  • Dose-Dependent Neuroprotective Support (Atochin et al 2016)

    A groundbreaking study published in 2016 by researchers at Harvard Medical School and several Russian institutions demonstrated tyrosol’s impressive ability to support healthy brain function in challenging conditions.^[19]

    Study Methods and Design

    The researchers divided 103 rats into four groups:

    • Control group (42 rats)
    • Tyrosol treatment groups at three doses:
      • 5mg/kg (9 rats)
      • 10mg/kg (10 rats)
      • 20mg/kg (17 rats)
    • Pentoxifylline group as positive control (15 rats)
    • Sham surgery group (10 rats)

    The animals received intravenous doses of their assigned treatments daily for 5 days. Researchers evaluated several key markers over this period, including overall recovery rates, neurological function, brain cell integrity, and oxidative stress markers in brain tissue.

    Key Results at Different Doses

    The 20mg/kg tyrosol dose showed the most impressive benefits:^[19]

    • Enhanced Recovery: 82.3% of animals maintained healthy function through day 5, compared to only 50% in the control group
    • Better Brain Cell Preservation: 31% higher neuron density in critical brain regions compared to controls
    • Reduced Oxidative Stress: Significantly lower levels of stress markers:
      • 37% reduction in conjugated dienes
      • 45% reduction in fluorescent products

    The researchers found that tyrosol’s benefits were clearly dose-dependent:^[19]

    • 5mg/kg showed mild benefits only by day 5
    • 10mg/kg demonstrated earlier onset of benefits starting at day 1
    • 20mg/kg provided the most comprehensive support across all measures

    Additionally, this study helped establish effective dosing ranges and demonstrated tyrosol’s excellent safety profile even at higher doses – key factors that informed CreaSol SSAT’s development and recommended usage protocols.

  • Tyrosol Reduces Amyloid-β Oligomer Effects (Taniguchi 2019)

    A major study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2019 demonstrated tyrosol’s ability to protect against neurotoxicity while improving cognitive function.^[27]

    

    Powerful visual evidence showing tyrosol’s ability to decrease 4-HNE (a marker of lipid oxidation) in Alzheimer’s model mouse brains. The fluorescence microscopy and quantification reveal tyrosol’s remarkable antioxidant protection in vulnerable hippocampal regions critical for memory function.^[27]

    Study Design and Methods

    The researchers used both in vitro and in vivo experiments:

    • Cell culture experiments using primary cultured neurons
    • Two treatment groups of 5XFAD transgenic mice, a model for Alzheimer’s disease:
      • 12-week treatment (ages 4-7 months)
      • 20-week treatment (ages 2-7 months)
    • Dosing: ~12.5 mg/kg/day of tyrosol via drinking water
    • Tests included:
      • Barnes maze test for spatial memory
      • Immunohistochemical analysis
      • Biochemical measurements
      • Oxidative stress markers
    

    Schematic diagram illustrating tyrosol’s distinct approach to fighting neurodegeneration. Unlike drugs targeting amyloid accumulation, tyrosol directly protects neurons from toxic oligomers by reducing oxidative stress, preventing synaptic damage, and blocking cell death pathways – offering a novel therapeutic strategy.^[27]

    Key Results

    The study revealed several tremendous findings regarding tyrosol supplementation:^[27]

    • Protected neurons against amyloid-β oligomer toxicity in cell cultures
    • Reversed reductions in spinophilin (a synaptic protein) in hippocampal regions
    • Prevented oxidative stress increases in the hippocampal CA3 region
    • Modestly improved spatial memory performance in Barnes maze testing
    • Demonstrated excellent safety profile with chronic administration
    • Did not affect amyloid-β accumulation, suggesting a unique mechanism

    Benefits Observed

    The research team found that tyrosol provided several key benefits, including synaptic integrity in the hippocampus, reduced oxidative stress markers, and improved cognitive performance.^[27] It also showed a high safety profile during extended supplementation.

    This study was noteworthy because it showed tyrosol’s ability to provide neuroprotective benefits without directly affecting amyloid-β accumulation – suggesting a unique mechanism of action compared to traditional therapeutic approaches.

    

    Performance data showing tyrosol-treated Alzheimer’s model mice demonstrate better spatial memory in the Barnes maze test. The graphs illustrate improved learning curves and shorter escape times in treated animals, confirming tyrosol’s cognitive benefits align with its cellular protective effects.^[27]

    Remember, this is mostly based upon cell studies and animal models — there’s likely a lot more coming as research moves into human territory. Also note that creatine is supported as a cognitive enhancer^[28,29] — the neuroprotective role of CreaSol SSAT doesn’t just have to be for performance and athletics.

• Cardiovascular Health Benefits

  Tyrosol’s broad cardiovascular benefits also make it a worthwhile compound for both general health and performance applications. The studies covered below demonstrate that tyrosol and its derivatives can support blood vessel function and cardiovascular health through multiple mechanisms, and is likely a big reason for the successful research on the polyphenols in olive oil with respect to heart disease risk factors.^[30]

  This is also where we have a human clinical trial. We’ll cover that first, and then describe a couple other key preclinical trials:

  • Human Clinical Trial: Insights from Boronat et al (2019)

    A landmark human clinical trial published in 2019 demonstrated tyrosol’s cardiovascular benefits and its conversion to hydroxytyrosol in humans.^[11]

    

    Flow chart detailing the rigorous human study protocol that tested tyrosol’s cardiovascular benefits. The diagram shows how 33 participants completed a series of interventions including water, white wine, and white wine plus tyrosol capsules in different sequences, allowing researchers to isolate tyrosol’s specific effects on heart health markers.^[11]

    Study Design and Methods

    Researchers conducted a randomized, controlled, crossover trial with 33 participants at high cardiovascular risk. The study included three interventions:

    

    Visual summary showing how researchers tested tyrosol’s liver-protective benefits in a NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) mouse model. The timeline illustrates the 14-week protocol comparing standard diet, high-fat high-fructose diet, and HFHFD plus tyrosol supplementation, demonstrating tyrosol’s ability to visibly improve liver health.^[23]

    • Water (control)
    • White wine alone
    • White wine plus tyrosol capsules (25mg for women, 50mg for men)

    Each intervention period lasted four weeks, with three-week washout periods between treatments. The researchers measured several key cardiovascular markers, including endothelial function, arterial stiffness, blood lipid profiles and various other cardiovascular biomarkers, and gene expression related to cardiovascular function.

    Key Results

    The study revealed several significant cardiovascular benefits from tyrosol supplementation:^[11]

    • Improved Endothelial Function: The white wine plus tyrosol group showed a significant increase in reactive hyperemia index compared to baseline
    • Better Arterial Health: Decreased arterial stiffness compared to the control group
    • Enhanced Lipid Profile: HDL cholesterol increased significantly versus control, with men showing particularly strong improvements
    • Improved Cardiovascular Biomarkers: Decreased homocysteine and endothelin-1 levels, with increased antithrombin III levels
    • Beneficial Gene Expression: Reduced expression of several cardiovascular risk-related genes

    50mg Dose in Men Outperforms 25mg Dose in Women

    It’s worth noting that the men had significantly better results, which isn’t surprising given that they received twice the dosage as the women. Results were still significant when looking at all participants, but it was the men whose numbers carried significance.^[11] This indicates to us that 50mg is a far better general dosage, at least for cardiovascular support.

    

    Flowchart illustrating the multiple pathways through which tyrosol and its metabolite hydroxytyrosol improve cardiovascular function. This interconnected network shows how tyrosol enhances endothelial function, increases HDL cholesterol, and reduces inflammation through direct effects and conversion to hydroxytyrosol.^[11]

    Practical Implications

    This research provided strong clinical validation of tyrosol’s cardiovascular benefits in humans at risk for cardiovascular disease. The improvements in endothelial function and arterial health are particularly noteworthy, as these are key indicators of cardiovascular health.

    The trial also confirmed that humans can convert tyrosol to hydroxytyrosol, validating preclinical studies already discussed in this article.

    Most importantly, these benefits were achieved at reasonable supplemental doses (50mg especially), suggesting that similar dosing strategies could be effective in dietary supplements.

  • Blood Pressure and Vascular Function (Plotnikov 2018)

    When it comes to cardiovascular function, blood flow and vessel health are critically important factors. Research is beginning to uncover how tyrosol supports these key aspects of cardiovascular health.

    Antihypertensive Mechanisms

    In this 2018 study, researchers found that tyrosol improved several markers of blood flow and vascular function in young spontaneously hypertensive rats. The compound demonstrated the ability to:^[10]

    • Reduce blood viscosity (thickness)
    • Support proper endothelial function
    • Maintain healthy capillary networks in brain tissue
    • Enhance oxygen transport capacity

    These effects appear to work through multiple pathways discussed lower in this article, showing tyrosol’s versatile support for cardiovascular health.

    

    Flow chart illustrating the multiple pathways through which tyrosol and its metabolites improve vascular health. The diagram shows how tyrosol activates Akt1/eNOS signaling while reducing superoxide, resulting in improved nitric oxide balance and increased cGMP, ultimately supporting healthy blood vessel function.^[12]

    Blood Flow Improvements

    Beyond its effects on blood pressure mechanisms, tyrosol has been shown to enhance blood flow through several pathways, by supporting normal endothelial function and blood vessel dilation, helping to maintain healthy blood viscosity levels, and promoting oxygen transport to tissues.^[10]

    

    Data showing tyrosol’s remarkable ability to beneficially modulate multiple cardiovascular-related genes. The graphs demonstrate how tyrosol supplementation decreases inflammatory markers and modifies nitric oxide pathways, supporting its role in heart health beyond just antioxidant effects.^[11]

    These blood flow benefits are especially relevant for athletes and fitness enthusiasts looking to optimize their training and recovery through enhanced circulation and oxygen delivery to working muscles.

    Of course, we can’t talk about blood flow and fitness without mentioning nitric oxide. That’s exactly what was measured in this 2021 study discussed next:

  • Tyrosol Promotes Nitric Oxide Balance in Human Endothelial Cells (Serreli 2021)

    A study published in Molecules demonstrated that tyrosol and its metabolites can enhance nitric oxide balance in human aortic endothelial cells.^[12]

    Study Design and Methods

    Researchers used human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) to evaluate the effects of tyrosol and its metabolites, using physiologically relevant concentrations (1μM) that can be achieved through diet. They tested tyrosol alongside its metabolites (sulfated and glucuronidated forms), and measured nitric oxide production, cGMP levels, and several other cardiovascular markers. They also compared effects against known other compounds, conducting experiments over 24-hour periods.

    

    Dual-panel graph demonstrating tyrosol’s remarkable ability to increase nitric oxide levels in human endothelial cells. Both fluorescence measurements and nitrite quantification confirm that tyrosol outperforms most other tested compounds, explaining its beneficial effects on blood vessel function and blood flow.^[12]

    Key Results

    The study revealed several impressive findings about tyrosol and its metabolites:^[12]

    • Tyrosol and tyrosol-sulfate showed the strongest effects on increasing nitric oxide levels
    • Tyrosol and tyrosol-glucuronide were most effective at increasing nitrite concentration
    • Most compounds enhanced cGMP release, a key mediator of vasodilation
    • The compounds reduced superoxide formation, helping maintain nitric oxide balance

    Study Implications

    This research provided strong evidence that both tyrosol and its metabolites can support cardiovascular health through multiple complementary pathways, and that the benefits occur at concentrations achievable through dietary intake. The metabolites remain bioactive after digestion, and the effects were comparable to known cardiovascular-supporting compounds.

    

    Graph showing how tyrosol significantly increases cyclic GMP levels in endothelial cells. Since cGMP is a critical messenger molecule that mediates nitric oxide’s effects on blood vessels, this increase explains how tyrosol promotes vasodilation and improved circulation throughout the body.^[12]

    Most importantly, this research validated that tyrosol’s cardiovascular benefits persist even after metabolic conversion, suggesting that supplementation can provide sustained support for vascular health.

• Additional Health Benefits

  While we’ve covered several of tyrosol’s benefits regarding performance, neuroprotection, and cardiovascular support, researchers have also discovered many additional mechanisms where this fascinating compound supports overall health. These stem from its antioxidant properties, discussed next:

  

  Western blot analysis showing tyrosol’s ability to normalize the expression of key antioxidant genes (Gpx, GR, γGCS) that are disrupted by oxidized LDL. This data reveals how tyrosol works at the genetic level to enhance the body’s natural cellular defense systems rather than just acting as a direct antioxidant.^[7]

  Antioxidant Properties: Beyond Direct Scavenging

  For years, researchers believed that tyrosol’s antioxidant effects were relatively weak compared to other olive oil phenols. However, recent scientific investigations have revealed a far more complex and powerful role in cellular protection that goes well beyond simple free radical scavenging.^[7]

  Direct vs. Indirect Mechanisms

  Tyrosol works through multiple complementary pathways to protect cells from oxidative damage:

  • Direct mechanisms (though weaker than other phenols):^[7]
    • Neutralization of reactive oxygen species
    • Prevention of lipid peroxidation
    • Protection of cellular membranes
  • Indirect mechanisms (more impactful):
    • Activation of cellular antioxidant systems
    • Upregulation of protective enzymes
    • Modulation of redox-sensitive signaling pathways^[31]

  Cellular Defense Enhancement

  Tyrosol significantly bolsters the body’s natural antioxidant defenses through several means:^[9]

  • Increases intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels
  • Enhances activity of protective enzymes
  • Preserves cellular ATP production
  • Maintains mitochondrial function
  • Prevents depletion of endogenous antioxidants

  Gene Expression Modulation

  One of tyrosol’s most powerful mechanisms involves its ability to influence gene expression related to oxidative stress protection. Research has shown it can affect multiple genes involved in antioxidant defense and cellular protection,^[24,31] upregulating genes involved with glutathione synthesis, while downregulating genes associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory response.

  Tyrosol’s antioxidant profile supports a great deal of the molecule’s vast benefits. This leads us to the technical mechanisms of action:

Tyrosol effectively modulates multiple stress response proteins (ERK1/2, p38, JNK), providing comprehensive cellular protection. This multi-pathway regulation demonstrates why tyrosol offers broader protective effects than many other antioxidants, working through complementary mechanisms.^[9]

Mechanisms of Action

When investigating CreaSol SSAT’s benefits, it’s important to understand how tyrosol works at the cellular level. Research has shown that this powerful phenolic compound operates through several key pathways that help preserve and enhance cellular energy production – most prominently through ATP-related mechanisms.

• ATP Production Enhancement

  Cellular ATP production and preservation is one of tyrosol’s most crucial mechanisms of action.

  Direct ATP Preservation

  In the Lee 2018 ATP and muscle protection study discussed above, the team found that tyrosol works through several key cellular pathways:^[9]

  It regulated important stress response proteins (ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAP kinase), increased the body’s natural antioxidant defense system through HO-1 protein expression, and helped control cell death signals by reducing caspase-3 levels.^[9] These findings show that tyrosol doesn’t just work through one simple mechanism – it provides comprehensive cellular protection through multiple complementary pathways.

  This direct preservation of ATP helps maintain cellular energy status, which is essential for optimal muscle function and recovery.

  Na/K-ATPase Function Support

  One of tyrosol’s more fascinating mechanisms involves its ability to preserve Na/K-ATPase function, which is critical for maintaining proper cellular ion balance. Studies show that tyrosol can protect against hypoxia-induced reduction of plasma membrane Na/K-ATPase^[3] and helps maintain enzyme activity during oxidative stress.^[10]

  

  Tyrosol increases HO-1 protein expression at higher concentrations, enhancing the cell’s natural defense mechanisms. This upregulation of protective enzyme systems shows how tyrosol works differently than direct antioxidants, instead helping cells protect themselves from within.^[9]

  This is discussed a bit more in the neuroprotection section below.

  Protection Against Oxidative Depletion

  Tyrosol provides significant protective effects against oxidative stress-induced ATP depletion.^[9] By functioning as an antioxidant and supporting cellular defense mechanisms, it helps prevent the oxidative damage that can deplete cellular ATP stores.^[7]

• Metabolic Support Mechanisms

  Getting back to the three metabolic studies discussed above,^[21-23] several great important were discovered:

  Thermogenic Activation

  In the Li 2022 study, they found that one of tyrosol’s most interesting mechanisms lies in its ability to promote thermogenesis – the body’s production of heat through metabolic processes. It can upregulate several proteins involved in thermogenesis, including:^[21]

  

  Tyrosol dramatically increases thermogenic proteins (UCP1, PGC-1α) and gene expression in brown adipose tissue. This upregulation of heat-producing pathways helps explain tyrosol’s ability to support healthy metabolism and improved body composition.^[21]

  • UCP1 (Uncoupling Protein 1)
  • PGC-1α (a key metabolic regulator)
  • PRDM16 (involved in brown fat development)

  These proteins play crucial roles in energy expenditure and metabolic rate.

  Healthy Adipose Tissue Function

  Beyond its thermogenic effects, tyrosol also helps support healthy adipose (fat) tissue function and provides comprehensive support for liver health through multiple pathways. Research shows it can help maintain normal adipocyte size and promote metabolic flexibility.^[21] The latest studies show that tyrosol (and CreaSol SSAT by extension) helps maintain healthy liver function by supporting proper fat metabolism and healthy inflammatory response.

  

  Panel of data showing tyrosol’s remarkable ability to enhance fat metabolism gene expression and protein levels. The significant increases in PPARα, CPT1α and ACOX1 explain how tyrosol helps the body more efficiently process fats for energy rather than storage.^[22]

  Support for Healthy Fat Processing

  Tyrosol can help maintain healthy liver fat levels, supporting the organ’s crucial metabolic functions. The Wang 2024 study and Gabbia 2024 studies both showed that its supplementation helped regulate key proteins involved in hepatic lipid metabolism.^[22,23]

  Both found that tyrosol works through PPARα activation^[22,23] – a protein that plays a central role in fat metabolism. This activation leads to:

  

  Comprehensive analysis showing tyrosol’s effects on thermogenic markers across multiple tissues, including white adipose tissue. The protein expression, gene regulation data, and fluorescent imaging provide visual confirmation of tyrosol’s ability to enhance metabolic rate.^[21]

  • Enhanced fat utilization
  • Support for healthy triglyceride levels
  • Maintenance of proper liver enzyme function

  Antioxidant Properties and Cellular Protection

  Beyond its effects on fat metabolism, tyrosol demonstrates powerful protective properties in liver tissue. Research shows it can:

  • Support healthy liver enzyme levels
  • Help maintain cellular integrity
  • Promote balanced inflammatory response

  Gabbia 2024 revealed that tyrosol supplementation helped maintain healthy liver function by supporting the body’s natural antioxidant defenses.^[23]

  

  Comprehensive analysis showing tyrosol’s ability to decrease liver scarring and inflammatory markers. The microscopic images and quantification demonstrate reduced fibrotic areas, stellate cell activation (Acta2), and pro-inflammatory signaling (NOX1), explaining tyrosol’s multi-faceted liver protection.^[23]

  Liver: The Center of Metabolic Health

  The liver plays a central role in whole-body metabolism, and tyrosol’s effects on liver health extend to broader metabolic benefits. Research shows that tyrosol helps maintain:^[22,23]

  

  Flow cytometry and histological analysis showing how tyrosol beneficially modulates immune cell populations in the liver. The data reveal tyrosol’s ability to reduce pro-inflammatory immune cells while increasing regulatory cell populations that support tissue repair and health.^[23]

  • Healthy blood lipid profiles
  • Balanced glucose metabolism
  • Proper enzyme function

  Gut Microbiota Modulation: Early Research Shows Promise

  Emerging research suggests that tyrosol may also help support a healthy gut microbiome balance. Scientists are beginning to understand how this olive oil compound can influence the complex ecosystem of beneficial bacteria in our digestive system.

  Support for Beneficial Bacteria

  Li 2022 also revealed promising changes in key bacterial populations. They found that tyrosol supplementation helped:^[21]

  • Maintain healthy ratios of beneficial gut bacteria
  • Support normal levels of gut microbes associated with metabolic health
  • Promote balanced bacterial populations

  Microbial Diversity Benefits

  The same study showed tyrosol’s ability to support healthy microbial diversity in the gut. The study found increased populations of beneficial bacterial families, including:^[21]

  

  Analysis showing how tyrosol supplementation beneficially shifts gut bacteria composition. The detailed bacterial profiles demonstrate tyrosol’s ability to promote a healthier microbiome balance, with particularly notable improvements in the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio.^[21]

  • Muribaculaceae family members
  • Blautia genus
  • Other beneficial bacterial populations

  These changes were associated with improved metabolic outcomes in the study subjects.

  While this research area is still developing, the early results suggest that tyrosol’s benefits may extend beyond direct metabolic support to include positive effects on gut health. However, more research is needed to fully understand these mechanisms and their implications for human health.

• Neuroprotective Mechanisms: Dopaminergic Implications

  Before getting into neuroprotection, first note that tyrosol is also endogenously produced as a metabolic byproduct through tyramine metabolism. In this pathway, monoamine oxidase (MAO) deaminates tyramine to form an aldehyde intermediate, which can then be reduced by alcohol dehydrogenase to generate tyrosol.^[15]

  This is worth mentioning because it shows that tyrosol is not a foreign molecule we’re introducing to the brain — it’s constantly present in the brain at low levels.

  

  Advanced computer modeling showing how tyrosol binds to the PPARα receptor compared to fenofibrate. This molecular interaction reveals how this simple olive oil compound can trigger powerful metabolic effects by activating key cellular pathways that regulate energy usage.^[22]

  Effects on Dopamine-Related Oxidative Stress

  Beyond its role as a metabolic byproduct, tyrosol demonstrates powerful protective effects against oxidative stress,^[4,7,20] including support for dopamine signaling, which is essential for motivation, movement control, and reward processing.

  General Oxidative Stress Protection

  Tyrosol has several powerful antioxidant capabilities. While it shows lower direct antioxidant activity compared to some other phenolic compounds in cell-free systems, it significantly enhances cellular antioxidant defenses through multiple mechanisms:^[4]

  • Increased glutathione levels
  • Enhanced expression of antioxidant enzymes
  • Reduced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)

  These effects go beyond simple radical scavenging. Instead of just neutralizing free radicals directly, tyrosol helps boost the cell’s own antioxidant systems, providing a more comprehensive form of protection.^[7]

  

  Metabolic pathway diagram showing how hydroxytyrosol forms from dopamine. This connection to the dopaminergic system helps explain tyrosol’s neuroprotective effects and why it can support brain health through multiple complementary pathways.^[4]

  When tyrosol is distributed within lipid membranes, it also helps prevent harmful lipid peroxidation chain reactions, also supporting liver health.^[19,24,26]

  Cell Viability Preservation

  Research has shown that tyrosol helps maintain neuronal cell viability through multiple pathways. In cellular studies, it significantly reduced caspase-3 activation – a key marker of cellular death – when neurons were exposed to various stressors.^[27] The compound has also demonstrated the ability to:

  • Protect against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity
  • Preserve mitochondrial function
  • Support cellular ATP production

  These protective effects were observed at concentrations as low as 5-10 μM, suggesting potent biological activity even at relatively low doses.^[9]

  Anti-Hypoxic Effects

  One of tyrosol’s most impressive attributes is its ability to protect brain tissue during periods of reduced oxygen availability. It can:

  • Maintain oxygen transport capacity in brain tissue
  • Protect against hypoxia-induced ATP reduction
  • Support cellular energy metabolism during oxygen restriction

  These effects were demonstrated in both cell culture models and animal studies, where tyrosol significantly improved outcomes following hypoxic events.^[24] The compound appears to work through multiple complementary mechanisms rather than a single pathway, which may explain its large variety of protective effects,^[19] including improved brain oxygen transport and utilization.^[10]

  It also has protective effects against cerebral ischemia damage. Cerebral ischemia occurs when blood flow to the brain is restricted, leading to oxygen deprivation and potential brain damage. Tyrosol treatment led to several beneficial outcomes:^[32]

  

  Lab data showing how tyrosol effectively protects cells from stress conditions, with comparable results to salidroside. The bar graphs demonstrate dose-dependent cellular protection without toxicity, supporting tyrosol’s role as a key bioactive compound.^[3]

  • Reduced infarct volume
  • Improved sensory-motor recovery
  • Enhanced post-ischemic functional outcomes

  The compound’s protective effects appear to be dose-dependent, with higher doses offering greater protection within the studied safety range.^[19]

  Electrolyte Balance: Na+/K+-ATPase Preservation

  Also described in the ATP section above, Na+/K+-ATPase is often compromised during hypoxic conditions, and tyrosol has shown remarkable ability to preserve Na+/K+-ATPase function through several mechanisms:^[3]

  • Protects against hypoxia-induced reduction of plasma membrane Na+/K+-ATPase
  • Maintains proper enzyme function during oxidative stress
  • Supports cellular energy status required for optimal Na+/K+-ATPase activity

  This preservation of Na+/K+-ATPase function is essential for maintaining proper neuronal function and preventing cellular damage during periods of stress.^[23]

  Anti-inflammatory Effects in the Brain and Prevention of Neuronal Death

  Tyrosol exhibits significant anti-inflammatory capabilities within the brain. It significantly decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production, including TNF-α and IL-1β, while modulating key inflammatory signaling pathways.^[2,24]

  It can also protect neurons from various forms of cell death. In cellular studies, tyrosol significantly reduced markers of neuronal death and supported cell survival pathways through multiple mechanisms:^[27]

  • Decreased activation of cell death pathways
  • Enhanced cellular survival signaling
  • Protected mitochondrial function
  • Maintained cellular energy status

  Tyrosol demonstrates broad-spectrum protection against various neurotoxic insults, where it’s shown effectiveness in protecting neurons from multiple forms of damage.^[25]

  With respect to mood and dopamine, it’s important to note that the Gabbia 2024 study that improved liver health also improved mood^[23] — this makes sense, given the liver’s central role in whole body health.



Data showing tyrosol’s surprising benefits beyond liver health, including improved grip strength, physical endurance, and reduced anxiety-like behaviors. These results demonstrate how tyrosol’s protective effects extend to both physical performance and mood regulation in metabolic disease models.^[23]

• Relevance to Exercise Performance

  The dopaminergic effects of tyrosol may contribute to its ergogenic properties in several ways:

  • Supporting motivation and drive during intense exercise
  • Enhancing neuromuscular function and motor control
  • Maintaining cellular energy production during physical stress
  • Protecting against exercise-induced oxidative damage

  This is supported by the internal research that shows how tyrosol supplementation can enhance the effects of creatine on muscle strength and endurance.^[13]

  Furthermore, tyrosol’s ability to boost cellular antioxidant defenses are relevant during exercise, when oxidative stress levels are elevated. This protection could help maintain optimal performance and support recovery.

• Cardiovascular Support: eNOS and NO Production, HDL Support

  Nitric oxide (NO) plays a crucial role in vascular function by mediating vasodilation and blood flow in arteries. It also keeps the circulatory system in balance by preventing muscle tightening in blood vessels, limiting unwanted cell growth, and reducing blood clotting and inflammation.^[12] Here’s where tyrosol gets involved:

  Direct Effects on eNOS Activation

  

  Western blot analysis revealing tyrosol’s ability to activate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). This critical enzyme produces nitric oxide in blood vessels, and its increased activation by tyrosol explains how this compound enhances blood flow and supports healthy cardiovascular function.^[12]

  Research using human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) demonstrates that tyrosol directly activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS),^[12] the enzyme responsible for NO production.

  This direct activation of eNOS by tyrosol boosts NO production, increasing NO levels and raising cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which helps carry out NO’s effects.^[12] This effect played out in human research, where tyrosol supplementation increases markers associated with better NO production.^[11]

  The ability to support healthy NO levels is important because nitric oxide helps regulate blood vessel dilation and maintain normal blood pressure, supporting optimal blood flow, as many of our readers who use pre-workout supplements know and attest to.

  NO Bioavailability Enhancement

  Beyond directly stimulating NO production, tyrosol helps preserve NO bioavailability through multiple mechanisms. It is able to significantly reduce superoxide production, which is important since superoxide rapidly reacts with and depletes NO.^[12]

  The dual action of tyrosol – both increasing NO production and preserving its bioavailability – creates a powerful synergistic effect on vascular function. This helps explain the compound’s broad range of benefits for cardiovascular and exercise performance.^[11-13]

  Vascular Function Effects

  Research in hypertensive rats demonstrates that tyrosol significantly improves vascular function, especially oxygen transport capacity and cerebral blood flow.^[10] When administered at doses of 50 mg/kg for 6 weeks, tyrosol led to meaningful improvements in microvascular density and capillary network health.

  

  Visualization of how tyrosol interacts with the PPARα receptor, showing both the overall protein structure and detailed binding site. This interaction explains how tyrosol activates key metabolic pathways to enhance fat metabolism and support liver health.^[21]

  These vascular benefits appear to be through the NO pathway discussed above, as tyrosol’s effects on blood vessel function closely mirror those expected from enhanced NO signaling.^[10]

  HDL Cholesterol Support

  One of tyrosol’s most intriguing cardiovascular benefits is its ability to support healthy HDL cholesterol levels, often called “good cholesterol”.^[11] Research has shown that tyrosol can help maintain optimal HDL levels through direct and indirect mechanisms.

  Dose-Dependent HDL Increases

  In a randomized, controlled human trial, participants consuming tyrosol showed significant improvements in their HDL cholesterol profiles. Most notably:^[11]

  • Increases in HDL cholesterol levels correlated with tyrosol intake
  • The effects were enhanced when tyrosol was combined with red wine compounds
  • Benefits were maintained throughout the study period

  The HDL-supporting effects of tyrosol appear to work through several complementary pathways, as it enhances HDL particle size, structure, and functionality.^[11,30] At the same time, it protects HDL particles from oxidative damage

  These mechanisms help explain why tyrosol supplementation can lead to meaningful improvements in cardiovascular health markers, making it a valuable compound for those looking to support healthy cholesterol levels naturally.

  

  Correlation graph showing how a person’s polygenic activity score relates to their tyrosol-to-hydroxytyrosol conversion ratio. This relationship helps explain why some individuals experience stronger cardiovascular benefits from tyrosol supplementation than others.^[11]

  Vascular Blood Markers in Humans

  In the human clinical trial described above, tyrosol’s ability to beneficially modulate several key blood markers related to cardiovascular health was illuminated:^[11]

  • Homocysteine Reduction

    Homocysteine is an amino acid that, at elevated levels, is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Tyrosol supplementation has been shown to help maintain healthy homocysteine levels in the blood.^[11]

  • CD40L Reduction

    CD40L (CD40 ligand) is a protein that plays a dual role in both blood clotting and inflammation. High levels of CD40L can promote unwanted cardiovascular events. Tyrosol helped reduce CD40L levels, supporting healthy blood vessel function.^[11]

  • Endothelin-1 Modulation

    Endothelin-1 is a protein that affects blood vessel constriction. Proper modulation of endothelin-1 is crucial for maintaining healthy blood pressure and blood flow. Tyrosol helped maintain better endothelin-1 levels, supporting optimal vascular function.^[11]

  • Antithrombin III Improvements

    Antithrombin III is a protein that helps regulate blood clotting and plays an important role in maintaining healthy blood flow. Studies show that tyrosol supplementation can improve antithrombin III levels, supporting cardiovascular health.^[11]

• Other Considerations: Metabolism and Bioavailability

  

  Graph showing the significant increase in both tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol levels in participants supplementing with tyrosol capsules. This data confirms tyrosol’s excellent bioavailability and its ability to convert into hydroxytyrosol in humans, providing a dual-action approach to cardiovascular protection.^[11]

  Tyrosol demonstrates impressive bioavailability after oral administration, with roughly 32% reaching systemic circulation through passive diffusion in the intestinal tract.^[4] Recall that it partially biotransforms into hydroxytyrosol via cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP2A6 and CYP2D6.

  This conversion to hydroxytyrosol is significant because it creates a “dual-action” effect – both tyrosol and its metabolite hydroxytyrosol can exert beneficial effects on vascular and metabolic health.^[11] Research indicates that this conversion may account for some of tyrosol’s long-lasting benefits, as hydroxytyrosol has potent biological activities of its own.

  Comparison to Other Olive Phenolics

  Within the family of olive-derived phenolic compounds, tyrosol holds a unique position. Although it’s often considered a “weaker” antioxidant compared to compounds like hydroxytyrosol in direct free radical scavenging assays,^[7,24] tyrosol demonstrates excellent biological effects through additional mechanisms.^[33]

  While some olive phenolics show stronger immediate effects, tyrosol’s strength lies in its ability to modulate multiple pathways simultaneously, including NO signaling, vascular function, and cellular adaptation.^[33] This broader mechanism of action, combined with its excellent bioavailability and conversion to hydroxytyrosol, makes tyrosol an especially versatile compound despite its classification as a “weak” antioxidant.^[4,7,24]

  

  Data visualization showing how tyrosol supplementation creates distinct metabolic patterns in the liver compared to high-fat diet. These multivariate analyses reveal that tyrosol fundamentally changes how the liver processes nutrients, helping explain its far-reaching metabolic benefits.^[22]

  Put simply, this is one incredibly impressive molecule, and it’s not hard to see why olive oil has so many health benefits after researching it.

How It Works: CreaSol SSAT Technology Overview

CreaSol SSAT represents a novel development in sports nutrition supplementation, optimizing tyrosol through advanced stabilization technology to enhance its synergistic effects with creatine monohydrate.

• Synergy with Creatine

  The ingredient’s most impressive benefits come from its ability to work alongside creatine supplementation. Unpublished university preclinical research demonstrated that when combined with creatine monohydrate, CreaSol SSAT led to significantly better outcomes than creatine alone:^[13]

  • 28.1% greater improvement in muscle strength
  • 51.5% greater improvement in endurance
  • 82.5% improved strength compared to control
  • 205.4% improved endurance compared to control

  Covered in the sections above, CreaSol SSAT excels in its ability to prevent strength and endurance decline during consecutive training sessions.^[13]

  

  Pathway diagram showing tyrosol’s protective mechanism against cellular stress. This simplified flowchart illustrates how tyrosol blocks the harmful cellular cascade that normally leads to decreased cellular energy production during low-oxygen conditions.^[3]

  A 60-person randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human study investigating these effects is currently underway, with results expected in late 2025.

• Novel Delivery System Advantages

  CreaSol SSAT represents an innovative approach to tyrosol supplementation, featuring a stabilized form of this powerhouse phenolic compound. But what exactly makes this technology special?

• Advanced Manufacturing Process

  MolTek Nutrition utilizes an environmentally-conscious manufacturing process to produce CreaSol SSAT, with several noteworthy features:

  • Water-based solvent system that eliminates harsh chemical usage
  • Environmentally-friendly production methods
  • Zero hazardous residues in the final product
  • Multiple patents pending on tyrosol and its application

  Enhanced Stability and Purity

  CreaSol SSAT’s stabilized form of tyrosol that provides several key advantages over standard tyrosol supplementation:

  • Greater than 99% purity
  • Enhanced absorption characteristics
  • Superior stability compared to standard tyrosol
  • Environmentally-conscious water-based production process
  

  Graph showing tyrosol’s ability to normalize blood sugar control even during high-fat feeding. The supplemented mice demonstrated significantly better glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity compared to high-fat diet controls, revealing tyrosol’s potential to support healthy metabolism beyond its creatine-enhancing effects.^[22]

  This stabilized form helps ensure consistent potency and bioavailability, which are crucial factors for any supplement. While traditional tyrosol can be challenging to formulate with due to stability concerns, CreaSol SSAT’s enhanced stability profile makes it an attractive option for product developers and formulators.



Bubble plot revealing the specific biochemical pathways most significantly impacted by tyrosol supplementation. The amino acid, TCA cycle and fatty acid metabolism pathways stand out as particularly influenced, explaining how tyrosol improves energy utilization throughout the body.^[22]

• Formulation Flexibility

  CreaSol SSAT has been successfully tested in various delivery formats, including:

  • Powder formulations
  • Tablets and capsules
  • Energy/protein bars
  • Gummy supplements

  Testing is currently underway to evaluate its stability in ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, which could further expand its application potential.

• Patent Pending Technology

  MolTek Nutrition is working on multiple pending patents combining the use of tyrosol with creatine, for use in sports nutrition and to support energy levels:

  1. US18/957, 761
  2. US19/005, 921
  3. CN202410979761X & CN202411471319.2
  4. CN202411472062.2
  5. CN2025100984973

  This area will be updated once the status of these patents becomes available.

Safety and Research

It’s well-known that olive oil is incredibly safe and well-tolerated. Similarly, tyrosol has an impressive safety profile in both animal and human research.

First and foremost, MolTek Nutrition reports that self-affirmed GRAS should be issued by August 2025. According to their newest data (part of GRAS), the LD50 of CreaSol in rats is greater than 2000mg/kg — an LD50 was not discovered even at these upper toxicity testing limits.

• Clinical Research Safety Overview

  First, tyrosol has demonstrated a strong safety profile through its long history of consumption in olive oil and wine.

  In the human study evaluating tyrosol supplementation, researchers did not report any significant adverse effects. In a randomized, crossover trial investigating cardiovascular benefits, participants safely consumed tyrosol capsules (25mg for women, 50mg for men) daily for four weeks with no reported safety concerns.^[11]

  They additionally stated the following:

  Based on OHTyr toxicology, EFSA has established a no-observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 50 mg/ kg/day.^[11]

  This dose is much greater than what’s being suggested with CreaSol SSAT.

• Consider Safety Study on Hydroxytyrosol

  

  Not a one-to-one comparison, but of additional interest, tyrosol’s metabolite hydroxytyrosol has been extensively studied for safety, with a No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) of 50 mg/kg/day. Given the molecular similarity and metabolic relationship between these compounds, this data provides supportive context for tyrosol’s safety profile, though specific high-dose toxicology studies on tyrosol itself are still needed.^[34]

  Bioavailability Considerations

  Several factors influence tyrosol’s bioavailability and should be considered for optimal safety and efficacy:^[4]

  • Alcohol consumption actually enhances tyrosol absorption and bioavailability (note that we’re not suggesting this)
  • Food matrix affects absorption rates (higher when consumed with dietary fats)
  • Individual variations in CYP2A6 and CYP2D6 enzyme activity can affect metabolism
  • Time of administration (with meals) may impact absorption and utilization

  Current research indicates that tyrosol has a relatively high bioavailability compared to many other phenolic compounds, with approximately 75-80% metabolized when given olive oil in acute and week-long settings.^[18]

Applications & Usage

CreaSol SSAT provides formulators, brands, and consumers with several options for supplementation, with research demonstrating benefits at multiple dosing protocols and timings.

Recommended Dosing

Research suggests that 250-500mg of CreaSol SSAT per dose is optimal for performance benefits. For best results, this can be split into 1-2 daily doses:

• 250mg once daily for general users
• 500mg total daily (split into two 250mg doses) for performance-focused users

The research supporting these doses demonstrated significant improvements in muscle strength and endurance when combined with creatine monohydrate.^[13]

Timing Considerations

While CreaSol SSAT can be taken anytime, optimal timing strategies include:

• Pre-workout: 30-60 minutes before training
• With creatine: Take alongside your daily creatine dose
• Split dosing: Morning and pre-workout for twice-daily protocols

Product Formulation Options

Formulators and brands have multiple delivery system options available for CreaSol SSAT:

Metabolic pathway showing how the body naturally produces tyrosol from tyramine. This diagram explains why tyrosol isn’t just a dietary compound but also an endogenous molecule with established safety and biological relevance in human metabolism.^[4]

• Powders (recommended)
• Tablets and capsules
• Energy/protein bars
• Gummies
• Ready-to-drink beverages (stability testing in progress)

For powder formulations, CreaSol SSAT’s stability and compatibility make it an excellent addition to pre-workout and creatine-based products.

Stacking Suggestions

The main stack is creatine, but it doesn’t need to be the only one.

• Primary Stack: Creatine Monohydrate

• Additional Complementary Ingredients:

  • Beta alanine
  • Betaine
  • Essential amino acids (EAAs)
  • Electrolytes
  • Performance carbohydrates

For optimal results, brands should consider including CreaSol SSAT in comprehensive performance formulas where it can support and enhance the effects of other proven ergogenic aids.

CreaSol SSAT: Powering the Next Generation of Performance

CreaSol SSAT represents a significant advancement in supplementation, bringing together the benefits of tyrosol’s endogenous conversion to hydroxytyrosol with newfound creatine-enhancing capabilities. The compound’s breadth of research demonstrates not only its effectiveness but also its versatility in various supplement formulations.

We may never know how much tyrosol powers the health benefits of olive oil, but after reading the studies cited in this paper, we can confidently say that it plays a major part in its success.

• Ongoing Research

  Current scientific investigations are expanding our understanding of CreaSol SSAT’s mechanisms and applications:

  • A 60-person randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human study investigating CreaSol SSAT’s synergy with creatine is currently underway, with results expected in late 2025
  • Research continues to explore additional performance and recovery benefits
  • Stability testing for ready-to-drink applications is in progress
  • Further ongoing exploration into olive oil and its polyphenols

  Whereas tyrosol is likely to be used in pro-metabolic, cardiovascular-friendly formulas, we love that MolTek is first positioning CreaSol SSAT in the world of sports nutrition. This is where leading edge ingredients often make their biggest splash, and the ingredient’s ATP-enhancing abilities and synergy with creatine are the perfect beachhead for MolTek to bring it to market.

• Future Applications

  The unique properties here open several promising avenues for product development:

  • Pre-workout formulations emphasizing sustained energy and improved recovery
  • Enhanced creatine formulas
  • Sports nutrition beverages and functional foods
  • Recovery-focused supplements
  • Neuroprotective nootropics
  • Cardiovascular support products

  CreaSol SSAT’s dual-action approach – both as a performance enhancer and through its conversion to hydroxytyrosol – provides brands with unique marketing angles, something we’re always excited for. After all, creatine is a crowded market, and brands need more than just different creatine forms (which are all mostly the same) to stand out. With CreaSol SSAT, MolTek Nutrition brings strong differentiation to a saturated space, and it’s one that actually brings a diversity of benefits.

  For that reason, we couldn’t be more excited to see the next generation of creatine supplements and beyond, powered by CreaSol SSAT.

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