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Coconut oil: an overview of cardiometabolic effects and the public health burden of misinformation.

  • 2023
  • Archives of endocrinology and metabolism 67(6)
    • Bernardo Frison Spiazzi
    • Ana Cláudia Duarte
    • Carolina Pires Zingano
    • Paula Portal Teixeira
    • Carmen Raya Amazarray
    • Eduarda Nunes Merello
    • Laura Fink Wayerbacher
    • Laura Penso Farenzena
    • Poliana Espíndola Correia
    • Marcello Casaccia Bertoluci
    • Fernando Gerchman
    • Verônica Colpani

Study Design

Type
Review
Recent data from meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) suggest that dietary intake of coconut oil, rich in saturated fatty acids, does not result in cardiometabolic benefits, nor in improvements in anthropometric, lipid, glycemic, and subclinical inflammation parameters. Nevertheless, its consumption has surged in recent years all over the world, a phenomenon which can possibly be explained by an increasing belief among health professionals that this oil is as healthy as, or perhaps even healthier than, other oils, in addition to social network misinformation spread. The objective of this review is to present nutritional and epidemiological aspects related to coconut oil, its relationship with metabolic and cardiovascular health, as well as possible hypotheses to explain its high rate of consumption, in spite of the most recent data regarding its actual effects.

Research Insights

  • Coconut→Reduced Anthropometric Parameter

    Recent data from meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) suggest that dietary intake of coconut oil, rich in saturated fatty acids, does not result in cardiometabolic benefits, nor in improvements in anthropometric, lipid, glycemic, and subclinical inflammation parameters.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • Coconut→Reduced Glycemic Parameter

    Recent data from meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) suggest that dietary intake of coconut oil, rich in saturated fatty acids, does not result in cardiometabolic benefits, nor in improvements in anthropometric, lipid, glycemic, and subclinical inflammation parameters.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • Coconut→Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Level

    Recent data from meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) suggest that dietary intake of coconut oil, rich in saturated fatty acids, does not result in cardiometabolic benefits, nor in improvements in anthropometric, lipid, glycemic, and subclinical inflammation parameters.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • Coconut→Reduced Subclinical Inflammation Parameter

    Recent data from meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) suggest that dietary intake of coconut oil, rich in saturated fatty acids, does not result in cardiometabolic benefits, nor in improvements in anthropometric, lipid, glycemic, and subclinical inflammation parameters.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
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