Coconut Oil Found Beneficial

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The poor reputation of saturated fat has led many to avoid consuming not only animal foods, such as red meat and cheese, but also certain plant foods that are rich in this kind of fat—notably coconut.

However, fat is not inherently fattening. Moreover, the fact that there is no evidence that saturated fat causes heart disease means that I see no particular reason for avoiding saturated fat-rich food, whether animal or plant in origin.

Some have suggested that certain saturated fatty acids might have benefits for health. Coconut oil, for instance, is rich in medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which some work suggests might actually help to protect against fat accumulation in the body [1].
In a recent study, women were prescribed a lower-calorie diet, 50 minutes of walking a day, and were also supplemented with 30 ml of coconut oil each day for 12 weeks [2].

Another group of women were prescribed the same diet and exercise program, but instead of being supplemented with coconut oil, they were given soybean oil.

Both groups lost weight, but only the group taking the coconut oil saw a significant reduction in their waist circumference. This is significant because waist circumference is a measure of abdominal obesity (the form of obesity most associated with chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes).

In addition, those on the coconut oil—compared to those taking the soybean oil—saw an increase in levels of “healthy” HDL cholesterol and lower LDL to HDL ratio, both of which are believed to be associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

The results of this study suggest that incorporation of coconut oil into the diet may be beneficial in terms of reduction of fatty accumulation around the midriff and might also have benefits on the health of the cardiovascular system.

References:

1. Takeuchi H, et al. The application of medium-chain fatty acids: edible oil with a suppressing effect on body fat accumulation. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008; 17 Supplement 1:320–3

2. Assunção ML, et al. Effects of Dietary Coconut Oil on the Biochemical and Anthropometric Profiles of Women Presenting Abdominal Obesity. Lipids. 13 May 2009 [Epub ahead of print publication]

Dr. John Briffa is a London-based physician and health writer with an interest in nutrition and natural medicine. His Web site is drbriffa.com