Hydroxytyrosol: A pleiotropic polyphenol against the cardiometabolic disease spectrum.

Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) are a cluster of interconnected disorders encompassing both metabolic and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). With their rising prevalence, these conditions represent a pressing global health challenge. Recent therapeutic strategies emphasize comprehensive approaches toward CMD management. Hydroxytyrosol (HT) is a prominent bioactive phenolic compound found in olives and olive oil. It demonstrates protective effects against metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and CVD by targeting multiple overlapping pathways involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, and lipid metabolism. As such, HT exhibits pleiotropic activity across the CMD spectrum, making it a promising dietary adjunct for managing these disorders. This review examines HT's ability to interrupt the progression of CMDs, from early metabolic dysfunction to atherosclerosis and advanced CVD complications, with a focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms. It also highlights current limitations and proposes future research directions to fully elucidate the effects of HT and its translational potential.