Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Extra virgin coconut oil significantly reduced abdominal fat and significantly increased serum levels of HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A in the participating subjects with coronary artery disease compared to the control group.

coconut oilIn patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), the adoption of healthier eating habits, involving a balanced intake of healthy fats, fiber, fruits, vegetables, and nuts, can translate to almost a 50% decrease in mortality rate 1,2. Despite the importance of maintaining a healthy lipid profile and adequate body weight, data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey indicates that patients with CAD have very poor compliance to dietary treatments designed to reduce risk for future cardiovascular events 3. On the other hand, the incorporation of a few key functional foods into the daily diet of at-risk patients appears to offer critical benefits for lipid profile and is also associated with better compliance rates when compared to other nutritional interventions 4. In this context, extra virgin coconut oil, extracted from the fresh milk of coconut and left unrefined, is a particularly valuable functional food. Extra virgin coconut oil has shown positive effects on body fat due to its high content of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and high concentrations of auric acid (a source of vitamin E) and polyphenols (known for their antioxidant activity) 5-7. However, as a rich source of saturated fat, its impact on lipid profile remains controversial 8. In a study based out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2015), researchers conducted a trial examining the dietary effects of extra virgin coconut oil on anthropometric measurements and lipid profile 9.

A total of 116 men and women (aged 45-85), presenting with CAD (myocardial infarction and/or stable angina), were recruited as participants in a non-randomized, 6-month, longitudinal study. Patients participated in an intensive nutritional treatment designed to standardize their food intake for the first three months, after which they were randomly allocated to either continue the diet (diet group, DG) or participate in a diet rich in extra virgin coconut oil (coconut oil diet group, CODG) for an additional three months. CODG received extra virgin coconut oil in sachets containing 13 mL, totaling 90 sachets per patient, and were instructed to consume one sachet per day, alone or added to fruit. On a monthly basis, researchers assessed anthropometric measurements (body mass, waist circumference, neck circumference, body mass index), and fasting blood samples were collected and analyzed for serum levels of total cholesterol, apoproteins (main protein components in cholesterol), glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and insulin.

Data revealed a significant decrease in weight (-0.6 +/- 1.8 kg), body mass index (-0.2 +/- 0.7 kg/m2), neck circumference (-0.4 +/- 0.9 cm), and waist circumference (-2.1+/- 2.7 cm) for the coconut oil group from baseline to the end of the intervention (p < 0.01 for all), with a statistically significant difference between CODG and DG for waist circumference (p < 0.01). In addition, a significant increase in serum concentrations of HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) (3.1 +/- 7.4 mg/ld., p < 0.01) and Apo (associated with HDL cholesterol) (4.7 +/- 12.7 mg/ld., p = 0.01) was apparent for CODG, with a significant between-group difference reported for HDL cholesterol (p < 0.01).

Findings indicate that the incorporation of extra virgin coconut oil, at a minimum dosage of 13 mL, results in a significant improvement of HDL cholesterol and waist circumference. Results confirm the association between coconut oil and reduced abdominal fat previously reported by studies. Thus, although a rich source of saturated fat, coconut oil exhibits a beneficial effect on lipid profile, particularly for those with cardiovascular disease or CAD. 

Source Cardoso DA, Moreira ASB, de Oliveira GMM, et al. A coconut extra virgin oil-rich diet increases HDL cholesterol and decreases waist circumference and body mass in coronary artery disease patients. Nutria Hosp. 2015; 32(5): 2144-2152. DOI: 10.3305/nh.2015.32.5.9642.

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Posted April 16, 2018.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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  2. Ford ES, Ajani UA, Croft JB, et al. Explaining the decrease in US deaths from coronary disease, 1980–2000. New England Journal of Medicine. 2007;356(23):2388-2398.
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  7. Lipoeto NI, Agus Z, Oenzil F, Wahlqvist ML, Wattanapenpaiboon N, Wahlqvist M. Dietary intake and the risk of coronary heart disease among the coconut-consuming Minangkabau in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition. 2004;13(4).
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