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Effects of virgin coconut oil consumption on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and oxidative stress biomarkers in adults with metabolic syndrome: a randomized clinical trial.

  • 2023-07-06
  • Nutritional neuroscience 27(5)
    • Elahe Mansouri
    • Somayyeh Asghari
    • Parinaz Nikooei
    • Mehdi Yaseri
    • Ali Vasheghani-Farahani
    • Mohammad Javad Hosseinzadeh-Attar

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 48
Population
48 adults with MetS aged 20-50 years
Methods
Randomized controlled clinical trial; intervention group received 30 ml of VCO daily to substitute same amounts of oil in their usual diet; control group continued usual diet
Blinding
Open-label
Duration
4 weeks
Funding
Unclear

Background and aim

Metabolic syndrome is associated with health conditions and neurological disorders. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a protective role on the nervous system. Decreased levels of BDNF have been shown in MetS and neurodegenerative diseases. There is promising evidence regarding the anti-inflammatory antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties of virgin coconut oil (VCO). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of VCO consumption on serum BDNF levels, oxidative stress status, and insulin resistance in adults with MetS.

Methods

This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 48 adults with MetS aged 20-50 years. The intervention group received 30 ml of VCO daily to substitute the same amounts of oil in their usual diet. The control group continued their usual diet. Serum BDNF levels, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as HOMA-IR and QUICKI index were measured after four weeks of intervention.

Results

VCO consumption significantly reduced serum levels of MDA (p = .01), fasting insulin (p < .01) and HOMA-IR index (p < .01) and increased serum TAC (p < .01) and QUICKI index (p = .01) compared to the control group. Serum BDNF levels increased significantly in VCO group compared to the baseline (p = .02); however, this change was not significant when compared to the control group (p = .07).

Conclusion

VCO consumption improved oxidative stress status and insulin resistance and had a promising effect on BDNF levels in adults with MetS. Further studies are needed to understand the long-term effects of VCO consumption.

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