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Coconut Oil

6th Nov, 2019

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Coconut Oil - Essentials

Coconut oil has risen in popularity in recent years, being described as a “superfood”. It is high in saturated fats (90%) and has been promoted as having many positive effects on health.

A number of studies have investigated the benefits of coconut oil, many of which are attributed to its high content (65%) of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).

Table 1. Fatty acids found in coconut oil (1)

Coconut Oil Table 1 Traditional Understanding

Several populations around the world have thrived for multiple generations eating large amounts of coconut. Most indigenous populations consumed either coconut flesh or squeezed coconut cream in addition to a healthy lifestyle without processed foods. Therefore, health benefits from these populations cannot be applied to a typical Western diet. The extraction and use of coconut oil in edible applications is a relatively recent phenomenon (2).

Latest Research

Coconut oil and MCTs have been shown to have many potential benefits. Bear in mind that the evidence on MCT oil cannot be inferred to apply to coconut oil (2).

Weight management

Current research on the benefit of coconut oil in weight management is limited and there is still doubt regarding its effectiveness (3). However, potential benefits of coconut oil include:

Increased fat burning (4)
Reduced hunger (5, 6, 7)
Reduced abdominal fat (4,8)

Reduce seizures

MCTs are converted to ketones and used in epileptic patients to induce ketosis (9,10,11).

Cardiovascular disease (CVD)

Coconut oil can raise plasma HDL levels (8,12,13,14), which has been shown to reduce the risk of CVD (15). Coconut oil also has a beneficial effect on postprandial lipoprotein (a) and t-PA antigen levels, both of which are risk factors for CVD (16).

Skin and hair health

Coconut oil has been shown to improve the moisture content of the skin and reduce symptoms of atopic dermatitis (17,18). It also protects against hair damage and may be effective as a weak sunscreen (19,20).

Brain function in Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

Preliminary data shows that ketones and coconut oil may reduce symptoms of AD (21,22,23). Animal studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of coconut oil (24) and it remains a research area of interest requiring further investigation (25,26).

Other conditions

VCO consumption during chemotherapy was demonstrated to improve quality of life and reduce chemotherapy side effect symptoms in breast cancer patients (27).

VCO ingested with a carbohydrate-rich meal reduced the peak postprandial glucose response in healthy individuals (28,29).

Experimental studies

Recent experimental research results include:

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) has been shown to display anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti hepato-steatotic activities (30,31,32,33,34,35)
VCO is demonstrated to be chemoprotective (36,37,38)
Supplementation of VCO and lauric acid is reported to have beneficial effects on lipid parameters by reducing lipogenesis and enhancing the rate of fatty acid catabolism (39,40)
Coconut phytocompounds, in particular lauric acid, may prevent microvascular and liver complications of diabetes (41,42)
VCO inhalation may help to relieve asthma-related symptoms (43)
VCO may reduce testicular damage and associated effects on male fertility when administered as an adjunct to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (44)
VCO may reduce hypertension and protect against kidney damage caused by dietary consumption of repeatedly heated oils (45)
VCO can induce cell death of lung cancer cells (46)
Coconut oil may inhibit Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and control Clostridium difficile (47). Another study found that lauric acid (but not VCO) may inhibit microbial growth of C.difficile (48)
Coconut oil exerts anti-ulcer activity (depending on the method of extraction), via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity (49)
Lauric acid and capric acid were effective in treatment of acne (50–52) with lauric acid being more effective against acnes than other bacteria
Supplementation with VCO in conjunction with exercise may minimise the effects of chronic stress on anxiety-like behaviour in juveniles during a critical period of brain development (53)

1	DebMandal M, Mandal S. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.: Arecaceae): In health promotion and disease prevention. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. 2011 Mar;4(3):241–7.
2	Eyres L, Eyres MF, Chisholm A, Brown RC. Coconut oil consumption and cardiovascular risk factors in humans. Nutr Rev. 2016 Apr;74(4):267–80.
3	Clegg ME. They say coconut oil can aid weight loss, but can it really? European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2017 Oct;71(10):1139–43.
4	Mumme K, Stonehouse W. Effects of Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Weight Loss and Body Composition: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2015 Feb;115(2):249–63.
5	Coleman H, Quinn P, Clegg ME. Medium-chain triglycerides and conjugated linoleic acids in beverage form increase satiety and reduce food intake in humans. Nutrition Research. 2016 Jun;36(6):526–33.
6	Kinsella R, Maher T, Clegg ME. Coconut oil has less satiating properties than medium chain triglyceride oil. Physiology & Behavior. 2017 Oct;179:422–6.
7	Valente FX, Cândido FG, Lopes LL, Dias DM, Carvalho SDL, Pereira PF, et al. Effects of coconut oil consumption on energy metabolism, cardiometabolic risk markers, and appetitive responses in women with excess body fat. European Journal of Nutrition. 2018 Jun;57(4):1627–37.
8	Assunção ML, Ferreira HS, dos Santos AF, Cabral CR, Florêncio TMMT. Effects of Dietary Coconut Oil on the Biochemical and Anthropometric Profiles of Women Presenting Abdominal Obesity. Lipids. 2009 Jul;44(7):593–601.
9	Chomtho K, Suteerojntrakool O, Chomtho S. Effectiveness of Medium Chain Triglyceride Ketogenic Diet in Thai Children with Intractable Epilepsy. 2016;99(2):7.
10	Liu Y, Wang H-S. Medium-chain Triglyceride Ketogenic Diet, An Effective Treatment for Drug-resistant Epilepsy and A Comparison with Other Ketogenic Diets. Biomedical Journal. 2013;36(1):9.
11	Martin K, Jackson CF, Levy RG, Cooper PN. Ketogenic diet and other dietary treatments for epilepsy. Cochrane Epilepsy Group, editor. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016 Feb 9.
12	Cardoso DA, Moreira ASB, de Oliveira GMM, Raggio Luiz R, Rosa G. A coconut Extra Virgin Oil-rich diet increases HDL cholesterol and decreases waist circumference and body mass in coronary artery disease patients. Nutr Hosp. 2015 Nov 1;32(5):2144–52.
13	Khaw K-T, Sharp SJ, Finikarides L, Afzal I, Lentjes M, Luben R, et al. Randomised trial of coconut oil, olive oil or butter on blood lipids and other cardiovascular risk factors in healthy men and women. BMJ Open. 2018 Mar 6;8(3).
14	Feranil AB, Duazo PL, Kuzawa CW, Adair LS. Coconut oil predicts a beneficial lipid profile in pre-menopausal women in the Philippines. Asia PAc J Clin Nutr. 2011;20(2):190-5.
15	Ali KM, Wonnerth A, Huber K, Wojta J. Cardiovascular disease risk reduction by raising HDL cholesterol – current therapies and future opportunities. Br J Pharmacol. 2012 Nov;167(6):1177–94.
16	Müller H, Lindman AS, Blomfeldt A, Seljeflot I, Pedersen JI. A diet rich in coconut oil reduces diurnal postprandial variations in circulating tissue plasminogen activator antigen and fasting lipoprotein (a) compared with a diet rich in unsaturated fat in women. J Nutr. 2003 Nov;133(11):3422–7.
17	Evangelista MTP, Abad‐Casintahan F, Lopez‐Villafuerte L. The effect of topical virgin coconut oil on SCORAD index, transepidermal water loss, and skin capacitance in mild to moderate pediatric atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial. International Journal of Dermatology. 2014;53(1):100–8.
18	Verallo-Rowell VM, Dillague KM, Syah-Tjundawan BS. Novel Antibacterial and Emollient Effects of Coconut and Virgin Olive Oils in Adult Atopic Dermatitis. Dematitis. 2008;19(6):308–15.
19	Korać R, Khambholja K. Potential of herbs in skin protection from ultraviolet radiation. Pharmacognosy Reviews. 2011;5(10):164.
20	Rele A, Mohile R, Development R. Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconutoil on prevention of hair damage. Jounral of Cosemetic Science. 2003;54(2):175–92.
21	Cunnane SC, Courchesne-Loyer A, St-Pierre V, Vandenberghe C, Pierotti T, Fortier M, et al. Can ketones compensate for deteriorating brain glucose uptake during aging? Implications for the risk and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: Brain glucose and ketone uptake in Alzheimer’s disease. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2016 Mar;1367(1):12–20.
22	de la Rubia Ortí JE. Aceite De Coco: Tratamiento Alternativo No Farmacológico Frente a La. Nutricion Hospitalaria. 2015 Dec 1;(6):2822–2827.
23	Yang I, De la Rubia Ortí J, Sabater P, Castillo S, Rochina M, Ramón M, et al. [Coconut oil- Non-alternative drug treatment against Alzheimer’s Disease]. Nutr Hosp. 2015 Dec;32(6):2822–7.
24	Nafar F, Clarke JP, Mearow KM. Coconut oil protects cortical neurons from amyloid beta toxicity by enhancing signaling of cell survival pathways. Neurochemistry International. 2017 May;105:64–79.
25	Chintapenta M, Spence J, Kwon HI, Blaszczyk AT. A Brief Review of Caprylidene (Axona) and Coconut Oil as Alternative Fuels in the Fight Against Alzheimer’s Disease. The Consultant Pharmacist. 2017 Dec 1;32(12):748–51.
26	Fernando WMADB, Martins IJ, Goozee KG, Brennan CS, Jayasena V, Martins RN. The role of dietary coconut for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: potential mechanisms of action. British Journal of Nutrition. 2015 Jul;114(01):1–14.
27	Law KS, Azman N, Omar EA, Musa MY, Yusoff NM, Sulaiman SA, et al. The effects of virgin coconut oil (VCO) as supplementation on quality of life (QOL) among breast cancer patients. Lipids Health Dis. 2014 Aug 27;13:139.
28	Pietraszek A, Hermansen K, Pedersen SB, Langdahl BL, Holst JJ, Gregersen S. Effects of a meal rich in medium-chain saturated fat on postprandial lipemia in relatives of type 2 diabetics. Nutrition. 2013 Aug;29(7–8):1000–6.
29	Tan S-Y, Wan-Yi Peh E, Marangoni AG, Henry CJ. Effects of liquid oil vs. oleogel co-ingested with a carbohydrate-rich meal on human blood triglycerides, glucose, insulin and appetite. Food Funct. 2017 Jan 25;8(1):241–9.
30	Famurewa AC, Ejezie FE. Polyphenols isolated from virgin coconut oil attenuate cadmium-induced dyslipidemia and oxidative stress due to their antioxidant properties and potential benefits on cardiovascular risk ratios in rats. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2018;8(1):73–84.
31	Illam SP, Narayanankutty A, Raghavamenon AC. Polyphenols of virgin coconut oil prevent pro-oxidant mediated cell death. Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods. 2017 Jul 24;27(6):442–50.
32	Jose SP, I.M. K, M. R, S. A, S. S, V. R. Polyphenolic fraction of virgin coconut oil inhibits the inflammatory response in oxidized LDL activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by modulating TLR/NF-κB signaling pathways. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2017 Feb;10:59–65.
33	Narayanankutty A, Mukesh RK, Ayoob SK, Ramavarma SK, Suseela IM, Manalil JJ, et al. Virgin coconut oil maintains redox status and improves glycemic conditions in high fructose fed rats. J Food Sci Technol. 2016 Jan;53(1):895–901.
34	Vysakh A, Ratheesh M, Rajmohanan TP, Pramod C, Premlal S, Girish kumar B, et al. Polyphenolics isolated from virgin coconut oil inhibits adjuvant induced arthritis in rats through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action. International Immunopharmacology. 2014 May;20(1):124–30.
35	Narayanankutty A, Palliyil DM, Kuruvilla K, Raghavamenon AC. Virgin coconut oil reverses hepatic steatosis by restoring redox homeostasis and lipid metabolism in male Wistar rats. J Sci Food Agric. 2018 Mar;98(5):1757–64.
36	Famurewa AC, Aja PM, Maduagwuna EK, Ekeleme-Egedigwe CA, Ufebe OG, Azubuike-Osu SO. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of virgin coconut oil supplementation abrogate acute chemotherapy oxidative nephrotoxicity induced by anticancer drug methotrexate in rats. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2017 Dec;96:905–11.
37	Famurewa AC, Ufebe OG, Egedigwe CA, Nwankwo OE, Obaje GS. Virgin coconut oil supplementation attenuates acute chemotherapy hepatotoxicity induced by anticancer drug methotrexate via inhibition of oxidative stress in rats. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2017 Mar;87:437–42.
38	Nair S, Manalil J, Ramavarma S, Suseela I, Thekkepatt A, Raghavamenon A. Virgin coconut oil supplementation ameliorates cyclophosphamide-induced systemic toxicity in mice. Human & Experimental Toxicology. 2016 Feb;35(2):205–12.
39	Arunima S, Rajamohan T. Virgin coconut oil improves hepatic lipid metabolism in rats–compared with copra oil, olive oil and sunflower oil. INDIAN J EXP BIOL. 2012;8.
40	Sheela DL, Nazeem PA, Narayanankutty A, Manalil JJ, Raghavamenon AC. In Silico and Wet Lab Studies Reveal the Cholesterol Lowering Efficacy of Lauric Acid, a Medium Chain Fat of Coconut Oil. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2016 Dec 1;71(4):410–5.
41	Panchal SK, Carnahan S, Brown L. Coconut Products Improve Signs of Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. 2017 Dec;72(4):418–24.
42	Sheela DL, Nazeem PA, Narayanankutty A, Shylaja RM, Davis SP, James P, et al. Coconut phytocompounds inhibits polyol pathway enzymes: Implication in prevention of microvascular diabetic complications. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids (PLEFA). 2017 Dec;127:20–4.
43	Kamalaldin NA, Sulaiman SA, Yusop MR, Yahaya B. Does Inhalation of Virgin Coconut Oil Accelerate Reversal of Airway Remodelling in an Allergic Model of Asthma? Int J Inflam. 2017.
44	Ogedengbe OO, Jegede AI, Onanuga IO, Offor U, Naidu EC, Peter AI, et al. Coconut Oil Extract Mitigates Testicular Injury Following Adjuvant Treatment with Antiretroviral Drugs. Toxicol Res. 2016 Oct;32(4):317–25.
45	Kamisah Y, Ang S-M, Othman F, Nurul-Iman BS, Qodriyah HMS. Renoprotective effect of virgin coconut oil in heated palm oil diet-induced hypertensive rats. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 2016 Oct;41(10):1033–8.
46	Kamalaldin N, Yusop M, Sulaiman S, Yahaya B. Apoptosis in lung cancer cells induced by virgin coconut oil. Regenerative Research. 2015;4(1):30–6.
47	Rajagopal PL, Rajeev VR. Virgin Coconut oil” – An updated Pharmacological Review. World Wide Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development. 2017;3(12):87–92.
48	Shilling M, Matt L, Rubin E, Visitacion MP, Haller NA, Grey SF, et al. Antimicrobial Effects of Virgin Coconut Oil and Its Medium-Chain Fatty Acids on Clostridium difficile. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2013 Dec;16(12):1079–85.
49	Selverajah M, Zakaria ZA, Long K, Ahmad Z, Yaacob A, Somchit MN. Anti-ulcerogenic activity of virgin coconut oil contribute to the stomach health of humankind. TANG [HUMANITAS MEDICINE]. 2016 May 31;6(2):11.1-11.7.
50	Huang W-C, Tsai T-H, Chuang L-T, Li Y-Y, Zouboulis CC, Tsai P-J. Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of capric acid against Propionibacterium acnes: A comparative study with lauric acid. Journal of Dermatological Science. 2014 Mar;73(3):232–40.
51	Nakatsuji T, Kao MC, Fang J-Y, Zouboulis CC, Zhang L, Gallo RL, et al. Antimicrobial Property of Lauric Acid Against Propionibacterium acnes: Its Therapeutic Potential for Inflammatory Acne Vulgaris. J Invest Dermatol. 2009 Oct;129(10):2480–8.
52	Pornpattananangkul D, Fu V, Thamphiwatana S, Zhang L, Chen M, Vecchio J, et al. In Vivo Treatment of Propionibacterium acnes Infection with Liposomal Lauric Acids. Adv Healthc Mater. 2013 Oct;2(10):1322–8.
53	da Silva D de C, Tavares MG, do Nascimento CKB, Lira EC, Dos Santos ÂA, Maia LMS de S, et al. Can coconut oil and treadmill exercise during the critical period of brain development ameliorate stress-related effects on anxiety-like behavior and episodic-like memory in young rats? Food Funct. 2018 Mar 1;9(3):1492–9.