Coconut Oil: From Folk Remedy to Clinical Evidence

  Your competent? doctor can summarize how coconut oil can help or just say it is poison, your choice of what to believe.

Ask your doctor to clarify with valid research points.

The Hype About Coconut Oil Benefit Is False

A Harvard professor just busted the myth that coconut oil is good for you, calling it 'pure poison'

 

 

I will still use it, reasons found in these posts.

• coconut oil (66 posts to November 2014)

Coconut Oil: From Folk Remedy to Clinical Evidence

Coconut oil's reputation as a folk remedy is now backed by a fair amount of clinical research. It may be a reasonable skin moisturizer and adjunct treatment, with data spanning antimicrobial activity, wound healing, dry skin, atopic dermatitis, and preterm infant care. 

1. A Familiar Oil

Roughly 90% of coconut oil's fat content is saturated triglycerides, and virgin coconut oil is about half lauric acid by fat content. Lauric acid's derivative, monolaurin, has shown antibacterial activity against S. aureus and S. epidermidis, organisms relevant to skin and acne. These same antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties underlie its traditional use for hair, where a 2022 systematic review found clinical evidence for reducing hair breakage and treating hair infestations.

2. Wound Healing and Barrier Support

In an animal model, topical virgin coconut oil sped epithelialization and boosted collagen and elastin in healing tissue — early, preclinical evidence for wound repair. Separately, in human skin studies, coconut oil-derived compounds raised skin-barrier proteins like filaggrin and involucrin while reducing inflammatory markers, effects tied to better moisture retention and irritation resistance.

3. Dry Skin, Comparable Results

For mild-to-moderate dry skin, coconut oil performs about as well as mineral oil, with a similar safety profile, making it a reasonable option for patients who prefer a familiar moisturizer.

Article Key Points

• Best-supported use: skin moisturizer/adjunct; not a cure-all.
• Dry skin: efficacy ~ mineral oil; similar safety profile.
• Mild-moderate pediatric AD: virgin coconut oil improved SCORAD, TEWL, capacitance vs mineral oil.
• Human skin data: ↑ barrier proteins; ↓ inflammatory markers; possible antimicrobial effect vs S. aureus.
• Preterm/neonatal studies: ↓ transepidermal water loss; feasible, safe; larger trial showed better skin maturity.

What mechanisms improve barrier function with coconut oil?

How does coconut oil compare with ceramide moisturizers?

Which atopic dermatitis phenotypes respond best to coconut oil?

4. Atopic Dermatitis

In a randomized, double-blind trial of 117 children with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis over 8 weeks, topical virgin coconut oil outperformed mineral oil on SCORAD, transepidermal water loss, and skin capacitance. A separate review of atopic dermatitis studies found coconut oil outperformed mineral oil among the oils examined. A separate trial (not specific to atopic dermatitis) found coconut oil reduced S. aureus colonization more than olive oil.

Suggested for you

5. Newborn and Preterm Infant Skin

Coconut oil has also been studied in neonates. In very low birthweight infants, it reduced water loss through the skin without raising bacterial colonization. In 72 very preterm infants, it was feasible and safe, with skin condition maintained versus decline in controls. In a larger trial— 1,146 infants given coconut oil versus 1,148 given massage alone — infants who received coconut oil developed more mature skin and better neurodevelopmental scores, and had fewer apnea and hypothermia events.

Bottom Line

For patients asking about coconut oil, the best-supported use is skin care, not cure-all claims. It looks most useful as a moisturizer and adjunct treatment, with the strongest human data in dry skin, pediatric atopic dermatitis, and neonatal skin care.

This article is based on a recent Medscape commentary titled " Coconut Oil," and was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

Coconut Oil

 Your competent? doctor can summarize how coconut oil can help or just say it is poison, your choice of what to believe.

Ask your doctor to clarify with valid research points.

The Hype About Coconut Oil Benefit Is False

A Harvard professor just busted the myth that coconut oil is good for you, calling it 'pure poison'

 

 

I will still use it, reasons found in these posts.

• coconut oil (65 posts)

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil, derived from the dried Cocos nucifera (coconut) fruit, is made up of 90% saturated triglycerides and is used as a skin- and hair-conditioning agent as well as a fragrance ingredient in hundreds of formulations at concentrations ranging from 0.0001% to 70%. Notably, coconut oil also has a long history of traditional medicine use in China and India and in food preparation. Indeed, coconut oil is a staple ingredient in the Sri Lankan diet as well as others in South Asia, Africa, and South America, where coconut is cultivated.

Coconut oil has also been used for skin moisturizing for several centuries among people living in tropical and subtropical regions. It is known to exhibit antiaging, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity. This column focuses on recent evidence of wide-ranging benefits to skin health from the use of coconut oil.

Chemical Composition 

Virgin coconut oil, or the unprocessed oil derived from a fresh coconut endocarp, is composed mainly of saturated fatty acids, including capric (7%), caprylic (8%), gallic, lauric (49%), linoleic (2%), myristic (18%), oleic (6%), palmitic (8%), stearic (2%), and phenolic acids, as well as medium-chain triglycerides, polyphenols, iron, and vitamins E and K. Coconut oil is known to exhibit anticancer , antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, and skin moisturizing activity.

The monoglyceride monolaurin, derived from lauric acid, makes up 50% of the fat content of coconut and exhibits notable antibacterial effects against Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Coconut oil in concentrations of 5%-40% (w/w) displays antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, and Bacillus subtilis.

Article Key Points

Coconut oil, rich in saturated triglycerides, offers skin and hair benefits, including moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. It outperforms mineral oil in treating atopic dermatitis and supports skin health in preterm infants.

Wound Healing 

In 2010, Nevin and Rajamohan demonstrated that topical application of cold-pressed virgin coconut oil to young female Sprague-Dawley rats once daily for 10 days yielded more rapid epithelialization and healing in treated rats vs controls. Increased levels of collagen, elastin, glycosaminoglycans, hexose, proteins, and sialic acid in the granulation tissue were observed. 

Nine years later, Meliala and colleagues showed that virgin coconut oil and hydrolyzed virgin coconut oil enhanced protein expressions of MMP-9, PDGF-BB, and TGF-beta-1 in NIH-3T3 cell lines, suggesting their activity in wound healing. They noted that the hydrolyzed version was more active. 

Hair Health 

Virgin coconut oil has been reported to provide emollient and hair-conditioning effects, deliver shine, diminish hair breakage, and darken hair. It also contributes to the treatment of hair loss caused by reputed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory activity.

Coconut oil is a key ingredient in shampoos, conditioners, creams, and ointments, in which it is used to strengthen damaged and undamaged hair. In a 2022 systematic review of the literature on oils used traditionally to treat the hair of people of color, Phong and colleagues identified 22 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Based on this material, they concluded that coconut oil has demonstrated clinical efficacy in treating brittle hair and hair infestations. 

Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Skin Barrier Health 

By promoting expression of cornified envelope constituents in the epidermis, coconut oil improves the barrier function of the stratum corneum.

In 2017, Kim and colleagues studied the effects of cultured coconut extract on human explanted skin exposed to ultraviolet B radiation. Samples of skin treated with the extract evinced elevated expression of cornified cell envelope components, which aid the stratum corneum in providing skin protection. Inflammatory marker expression was also diminished in the treated group. Furthermore, collagen and hyaluronan synthase-3 expression were increased in the treated group. The authors concluded that cultured coconut extract improved barrier functions of the stratum corneum and delivered anti-inflammatory activity — roles they ascribed to the abundant polyphenols and fatty acids found in coconut. 

In 2018, Varma and colleagues demonstrated that virgin coconut oil exhibits anti-inflammatory and skin-protective activity by inhibiting inflammatory markers and ameliorating skin barrier function, specifically elevating the expression of Aquaporin-3, involucrin, and filaggrin. They concluded that these roles justify the use of virgin coconut oil in skin care products. 

Compared to Other Oils 

Used as a moisturizer to treat mild-to-moderate dry skin, coconut oil has demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety to mineral oil.

In a review of clinical studies conducted by Poljšak and Kocevar Glavac in 2022, coconut oil was among three oils used in patients with atopic dermatitis and outperformed mineral oil. Coconut oil also significantly diminished S aureus colonization compared with olive oil in another trial.

Treating Newborn Skin 

In 2014, Evangelista and colleagues conducted a randomized, double-blind clinical trial to compare the effects of topical virgin coconut oil and mineral oil on SCORAD (SCORing of Atopic Dermatitis) values, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and skin capacitance in 117 pediatric patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis over 8 weeks. The coconut oil group performed better along every metric, with both oils diminishing the signs of atopic dermatitis. The investigators concluded that topical virgin coconut oil was superior to mineral oil for pediatric patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis in terms of clinical and instrumental evaluations.

The next year, Nangia and colleagues determined that coconut oil application decreased TEWL without elevating skin colonization in very low birthweight neonates.

In 2018, Strunk and colleagues conducted an open-label, randomized controlled trial to assess the viability, safety, and effectiveness of topical coconut oil to treat the skin of 72 very preterm infants (< 30 weeks’ gestation). No adverse effects emerged from the study, which found that topically applied coconut oil was a feasible treatment. The Neonatal Skin Condition Score in the coconut oil group was maintained throughout the study, whereas it decreased in the control group. The investigators concluded that the superiority of coconut oil over routine care warrants additional study. 

Two years later, Konar and colleagues reported on a randomized controlled trial to ascertain the efficacy of coconut oil application on the skin of preterm infants. The intervention group received virgin coconut oil (n = 1146), and the control group received only body massage (n = 1148). Greater skin maturity as well as neurodevelopmental results were observed in the coconut oil group, along with fewer occurrences of hypothermia and apnea. No significant adverse side effects were observed. 

Safety 

The final report on the safety evaluation of coconut oil, published in 2011, revealed that the oil and its related constituents are considered safe as cosmetic ingredients by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel.

Conclusion 

Coconut oil has a lengthy history of medical, nutritional, and other uses. Current evidence supports the use of this botanical agent to promote skin health. More research is needed to ascertain more varied and curative applications for this popular natural product.

Dr Baumann is a private-practice dermatologist, researcher, author, and entrepreneur in Miami, and a cosmetic dermatologist for Body+Beauty Labs. She founded the Division of Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of Miami in 1997. The third edition of her bestselling textbook, Cosmetic Dermatology, was published in 2022. 

Put down the coconut oil, red wine in new heart health dietary guidelines

 Not for me, my reasons for coconut oil and red wine are below. But I'm not medically trained like these people supposedly are so don't listen to me. Your appeal to authority doesn't work since you don't give the science to back it up.

• coconut oil (64 posts to March 2014)

• red wine (100 posts to September 2012) 

Put down the coconut oil, red wine in new heart health dietary guidelines

Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman

Sat, November 27, 2021, 5:00 AM·3 min read

The American Heart Association has released new dietary guidelines for heart health, as part of its mission to reduce heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

The change, said Dr. Stanley Wang, a cardiologist at Austin Heart and Heart Hospital of Austin, is really about making the guidelines more user-friendly. Instead of telling people how many grams of something to eat,(Exact amounts are what is needed, do the research that tells us that!) the guidelines(We need EXACT PROTOCOLS YOU BLITHERING IDIOTS, guidelines are pretty much useless.) talk in broad strokes about making healthier choices.

"These 10 bullet points, we hope that will get absorbed by the public," Wang said. "The previous discoveries don't go away, but this is more approachable(No it's not)."

The guidelines closely follow a Mediterranean diet, one that emphases plants, healthy fats and lean proteins.

The two really eye-opening things, Wang said, are how strongly the American Heart Association comes out against tropical oils like coconut and palm, which became popular under ketogenic diet plans, and against alcohol use.

That theory that a glass or two of red wine is a heart healthy practice isn't found in these new recommendations. It's also a practice that many cardiologists, like Wang, have been trying to counsel against. "There are beaucoups of studies that (alcohol is) really bad for you in so many different ways," he said. Those include an increased risk of certain cancers and dementia, not just heart disease.

Flu season: How having the flu could damage your heart, increase risk for attack or disease

Here are the guidelines:

1. Adjust energy intake (calories) and expenditure (activity) to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

2. Eat plenty of and a variety of fruits and vegetables.

3. Choose whole-grain foods and products.

4. Choose healthy sources of protein (mostly plants; regular intake of fish and seafood; low-fat or fat-free dairy products; and if meat or poultry is desired, choose lean cuts and unprocessed forms).

5. Use liquid plant oils rather than tropical oils and partially hydrogenated fats.

6. Choose minimally processed foods instead of ultraprocessed foods.

7. Minimize the intake of beverages and foods with added sugars.

8. Choose and prepare foods with little or no salt.

9. If you do not drink alcohol, do not start; if you choose to drink alcohol, limit intake.

10. Adhere to this guidance regardless of where food is prepared or consumed.

Heart health: Do not stop taking aspirin: Let risk factors, not age be guide for doctors' recommendations

These guidelines are coming out just weeks after the Food and Drug Administration recommended that manufacturers and restaurants reduce the amount of sodium in their food. The recommended daily allowance is 2,300 milligrams a day, but most people ages 2 and older are consuming 3,400 milligrams a day and 70% of that is added in the manufacturing of the food, not in salt that a person adds to a meal or is naturally in food.(So your recommendation to switch to a salt substitute doesn't work.)

The FDA is trying to get manufacturers to reduce the salt added to food. The American Heart Association also recommends choosing foods that are low in sodium.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Put down the coconut oil, red wine, American Heart Association says

 

11 Foods That Help Unclog Arteries and Prevent Heart Attack

Useless, not a single one gives you amounts. 

11 Foods That Help Unclog Arteries and Prevent Heart Attack

11. Chia Seeds

Once used by Ancient Aztec warriors, this tiny seed packs a super health punch. Incorporating chia seeds into your diet is an easy way to manage your cholesterol levels. Chia seeds help maintain healthy serum lipid levels. Thanks to the presence of phenolic acid and omega 3 and omega 6 oils! Phenolic acids work as an antioxidant, which prevents cellular damage from free radicals in the body. Omega 3 and omega 6 oils prevent blood clotting and inflammation. Excessive inflammation can result in heart disease and diabetes. Add some chia seeds to your smoothie, cereal, oatmeal, or salad today!

10. Avocado

Avocados are all the rage right now because they are not only tasty but they are packed with almost 20 vitamins and minerals. Like their yellow friend, bananas, avocados are rich in potassium; potassium helps regulate and control blood pressure. Keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level for your age, height, and weight is essential in preventing a heart attack. Avocados are low in sugar and rich in fiber thus they keep you full between meals. Whether eaten as a spread on toast, as a dip in guacamole or sliced onto a salad there is no wrong way to enjoy avocado.

9. Fish

An excellent alternative to red meat and poultry, fish is a low-fat and high-quality protein. Full of heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B2, vitamin D, iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, and potassium, fish is another super food. The vitamins and minerals in fish can lower blood pressure, reduce the chance of stroke, as well as prevent heart attacks. The omega 3’s in fish aid in maintaining a healthy heart by lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of a sudden heart attack. Fish also plays an essential role in regulating blood clots and vessel constriction. This is important if you have a history of familial blood clots or stroke caused by blood clots.

8. Coconut Oil

We all have heard how great coconut oil is for hair, skin, and nails, but a beautiful outside starts with a beautiful inside. Coconut oil really does all that! If you have been looking for oil that can help boost your good HDL levels and help lower your bad LDL levels, this is it. HDL or, high-density lipoprotein, is considered good because it is the “protective” type of cholesterol. LDL, or, low-density lipoprotein is the “bad” cholesterol. Knowing your levels of each is important before incorporating new diets or lifestyle changes. Even though saturated fat has a bad rap over the years, it is an essential fat for a healthy diet. Coconut oil should still be used sparingly as it is rich in saturated fats. Even with studies showing its cholesterol friendly benefits, it is wise to use sparingly.

7. Green Tea

Drinking green tea reduces the amount of cholesterol digested and absorbed by the body. Green tea has also been shown in certain studies to reduce the risk and development of coronary heart disease by lowering blood glucose levels and body weight. Green tea is also rich in polyphenol. It blocks cholesterol absorption in the intestines and detoxes the body from bad cholesterol. After a long day, unwind with a good book and hot cup of heart-healthy green tea.
Related: 11 Useful Remedies Hidden In A Tea Bag

6. Broccoli

Oh, broccoli, every child’s worst nightmare. Hopefully, at this point in life, you have expanded your palette because broccoli is not only delicious, it’s great for your heart. Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamin K. It prevents the hardening of your arteries. Sulforaphane, which is found in raw broccoli, has shown to decrease inflammation and reduce blood pressure. Broccoli is also rich in fiber which helps keep you full longer and prevents snacking in between meals. Fiber also has been shown to promote healthy digestion and healthy digestion is the key to staying regular. Eating broccoli raw is the best way to get all the nutritional benefits this vegetable has to offer. If you do not enjoy raw broccoli, try lightly steaming it and using nutritional yeast for flavor.

5. Cinnamon

You don’t have to do the cinnamon challenge that swept the Internet to get the nutritional benefits from this simple spice. Just one teaspoon added to your daily coffee, oatmeal, smoothie, or cereal along with a healthy diet and exercise plan could reduce your cholesterol levels. Cinnamon also increases blood circulation, which ultimately prevents blood clots that lead to heart attack. Just a dash of cinnamon can provide you with the antioxidants necessary to fight free radicals in the body. Some people do experience a slight sensitivity to the spice in cinnamon, but it is important to remember that only 5-6 grams a day are what is recommended to reap the health benefits.
Related: Lower Your Blood Sugar Level Instantly with These Foods

4. Asparagus

 Asparagus is often known as the vegetable that makes your urine smell funny. The good news is, only you can smell that strange smell when you urinate after eating asparagus. There is no bad news about asparagus; it is all positive! Since asparagus is rich in folate and other B vitamins, it helps to regulate and lower homocysteine levels in the body. Homocysteine is an amino acid found in meat, and high levels of it are linked to heart disease. Chomping on asparagus is not enough to completely reverse the adverse side effects caused by consuming heavy amounts of meat. However, it has been shown to regulate the amino acid that has been linked to heart disease. Try swapping out your regular buttered asparagus with something more heart healthy like coconut oil or olive oil.

3. Turmeric

Don’t be put off by the bright, natural color of Turmeric because it is jam-packed with heart-healthy benefits. The chemical curcumin and other naturally occurring chemicals in Turmeric decrease swelling and inflammation in some. Excess inflammation can cause heart disease, stroke, or heart attack over an extended period of time. You can add turmeric to soups, meats, poultry, fish, and smoothies. A hot new trend hitting the scene recently has been turmeric lattes. Why not step a bit outside of your comfort zone and try a turmeric latte today?
Related: Turmeric Health Benefits

2. Persimmons

Hot on the scene in the produce section is the humble persimmon. Native to China the persimmon has a soft, fibrous texture and a light but tangy taste. According to a study on tropical fruits, which included persimmons, they found that this simple fruit could improve lipid metabolism and prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Compared to tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, and guava, persimmons proved to be the healthiest for managing cholesterol levels.  Persimmons also contain high levels of fiber as well as high levels of polyphenols and tannins. Both polyphenols and tannins are an excellent source of antioxidants. By adding persimmons to your grocery list, you might lower your risk of heart disease or heart attack.

1. Spirulina

Spirulina is an algae-based supplement loaded with vitamins and nutrients your body needs. Phycocyanin, the compound that gives spirulina its pigmentation, has antihypertensive effects. Spirulina reverses endothelial dysfunction in metabolic syndrome; an increasingly common cause for the development of heart disease in Americans today. Spirulina also decreases LDL levels during an eight-week trial study. Since spirulina is mostly available as a powdered form, it is easy to incorporate into your everyday diet. Sprinkle some in your tea, mix with water, or add to a smoothie.

The impacts to health coorellated with the consumption of coconut oil

This obviously can't be true because of these two other articles. Ask your doctor to clarify with valid research points.

The Hype About Coconut Oil Benefit Is False

A Harvard professor just busted the myth that coconut oil is good for you, calling it 'pure poison'

 

 

I will still use it, reasons found in these posts.

• coconut oil (61 posts)

The latest here:

The impacts to health coorellated with the consumption of coconut oil

Geisa Priscilla Araújo Gomes Maia, Geovana Rocha Plácido, Juliete Martins Dutra, Igor Souza de Brito, Pauleane Pereira Chagas, Amanda Barbosa de Faria

Abstract

Coconut oil is obtained from the pulp of fresh ripe coconut and can be extracted in different ways; either by artisanal, solvent or mechanical extraction. Unlike other vegetable oils, this one has a high content of medium chain fatty acids, which represent around 60% of its composition. This high content of medium chain fatty acids results in several benefits for the human organism. The present study aimed to evaluate the impacts caused by the daily consumption of coconut oil on the reduction of the abdominal circumference of men and women and on weight loss, its antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and, finally, its influence on the prevention and development of Alzheimer's. Most of the fatty acids present in coconut oil are rapidly absorbed in the intestine, generating energy quickly, even without suffering the action of pancreatic lipase enzymes. From the bibliographic review carried out, the effectiveness of coconut oil in reducing the abdominal circumference of men and women and weight loss was considered, in addition to its antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and its influence of coconut oil on prevention and development Alzheimer's disease. However, it was considered viable to consume up to 12 grams of coconut oil daily, and can be used as a substitute for other oils of vegetable origin.

Keywords

Cocos nucifera, L; Medium chain fatty acids; Vegetable oil.

Full Text:

PDF (Português (Brasil))

The Hype About Coconut Oil Benefit Is False

You can read this on your own, I will probably still use it, reasons found in these posts.

• coconut oil (61 posts)

The Hype About Coconut Oil Benefit Is False

Association of egg intake with blood lipids, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in 177,000 people in 50 countries

Goes well with the 4 eggs I'm having for breakfast this morning, fried in coconut oil.

You'll have to read for yourself on what to do with coconut oil because of this professor.

A Harvard professor just busted the myth that coconut oil is good for you, calling it 'pure poison'

• coconut oil (60 posts)

Association of egg intake with blood lipids, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in 177,000 people in 50 countries

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition — Dehghan M, Mente A, Rangarajan S, et al. | April 09, 2020

In the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study, researchers analyzed 146,011 people from 21 countries in order to examine the link of egg intake with blood lipids, cardiovascular disease (CVD), as well as mortality in large glo  bal investigations with populations from low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Overall 31,544 patients having vascular disease were also analyzed in 2 multinational prospective investigations: ONTARGET (Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Global End Point Trial) and TRANSCEND (Telmisartan Randomized Assessment Study in ACEI Intolerant Subjects with Cardiovascular Disease). According to the findings, no significant links exist between egg consumption and blood lipids, mortality, or major CVD events in this analysis of 3 large international prospective investigations involving approximately 177,000 people, 12,701 deaths, and 13,658 CVD events from 50 countries in 6 continents.

• See Also: Implications of abnormal exercise electrocardiography with normal stress echocardiography

Read the full article on American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Potential of coconut oil and medium chain triglycerides in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Your doctor is responsible for elucidating the pros of coconut oil for this prevention/treatment.  VS. this!

The bad?

Coconut Oil and Heart Health: Fact or Fiction?

The good?

Potential of coconut oil and medium chain triglycerides in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Author links open overlay panelPratishthaChatterjee^ab MalikaFernando^cBinoshaFenando^bCintia BDias^adTejalShah^abeRenukaSilva^cShehanWilliams^eStevePedrini^bHeidiHillebrandt^aKathrynGoozee^abfghEdwardBarinⁱHamid RSohrabi^abjManoharGarg^dStephenCunnane^kRalph NMartins^abfhj

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2020.111209Get rights and content

Highlights

•

Brain glucose hypometabolism is a major early hallmark of AD.

•

CO is a rich source of MCT, and ketone bodies arise from MCT metabolism.

•

Ketone bodies serve as an alternative energy source for the glucose-deficient brain.

•

CO, MCT and their derivatives show evidence of neuroprotective properties.

•

CO, MCT and their derivatives show evidence of influencing AD related risk factors.

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Currently, there is no effective medication for the prevention or treatment of AD. This has led to the search for alternative therapeutic strategies. Coconut oil(CO) has a unique fatty acid composition that is rich in medium chain fatty acids(MCFA), a major portion of which directly reaches the liver via the portal vein, thereby bypassing the lymphatic system. Given that brain glucose hypometabolism is a major early hallmark of AD, detectable well before the onset of symptoms, ketone bodies from MCFA metabolism can potentially serve as an alternative energy source to compensate for lack of glucose utilisation in the brain. Additionally, neuroprotective antioxidant properties of CO have been attributed to its polyphenolic content. This review discusses how the metabolism of CO and MCFA may aid in compensating the glucose hypometabolism observed in the AD brain. Furthermore, we present the current evidence of the neuroprotective properties of CO on cognition, amyloid-β pathogenicity, inflammation and oxidative stress. The current review addresses the influence of CO/MCFA on other chronic disorders that are risk factors for AD, and addresses existing gaps in the literature regarding the use of CO/MCFA as a potential treatment for AD.

Keywords

Medium chain triglycerides

coconut oil

Alzheimer’s disease

cerebral glucose hypometabolism

amyloid-β

View full text

© 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V.