Is There Research to Support The Benefits of Coconut Oil? (July 2011)
Coconut Oil has been marketed on websites and magazines promoting all types of health benefits. Coming from a cardiology background I can’t help but read these claims, being aware of the high saturated fat content. According to the Natural Medicines Database, there is insufficient evidence to rate the effectiveness for the claims that have made. These include: weight loss, reducing cholesterol, improvements with diabetes, Crohn’s disease, chronic fatigue, and irritable bowel syndrome and thyroid conditions.
Similar to other tropical oils (palm, palm kernel, cocoa butter and cotton seed) coconut oil is high in saturated fatty acids, specifically lauric acid and myristic acid. Lauric acid and myristic acid have a greater total cholesterol raising effect than the palmitic acid found mainly in meat and dairy products, in comparison to stearic acid which is also found in meat and dairy products has a neutral effect on total, low density lipoprotein (LDL), or high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Lauric acid, but not myristic or palmitic acid, decreases the total to HDL cholesterol. Foods contain mixtures of saturated fatty acids, therefore selecting foods on individual saturated fatty acid content is not recommended.
The American Dietetic Association’s Nutrition Care Manual provides current recommendations for disorders of lipid metabolism:
- Limit intake of saturated fat, Trans fat, and cholesterol.
- Consume adequate energy to maintain or achieve appropriate weight.
- Replace saturated fat with monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat.
- Increase intake of n-3 fatty acids, fiber (especially soluble fiber), vegetables, and fruits
The effect of saturated fat in the diet is likely to continue and the topic of coconut oil will remain controversial. The evidence based 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recognized that the TYPES of fatty acids consumed are more important than is the total amount of fat in the diet. The DGA also mentioned the calories from solid fats are consumed in excess by Americans and they do not contribute to overall nutrient adequacy. According to the DGA, no more than 5-15% of calories from solid fats can reasonably by most people.
To be able to answer clients’ questions and concerns regarding coconut oil requires the nutrition therapist to remain current on trends and research on this matter.
