They Say Coconut Oil Can Aid Weight Loss, but Can It Really?

Overview

Journal Eur J Clin Nutr

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2017 Jun 8

PMID 28589949

Citations 7

Authors

M E Clegg

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

There has in recent years, been much media speculation and consumer interest in the beneficial satiating properties of consuming coconut oil and its potential to aid weight loss. However, the media has primarily cited studies using medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oil. The current perspective looks at the research that is available on coconut oil. It examines if and how MCT-related research can be applied to coconut oil and if there is potential for coconut oil to aid weight loss. The current report indicates a lack of consistent evidence on the topic of coconut oil, satiety and weight loss. Given both the publicity and the increased consumption of coconut oil further research, particularly long-term clinical trials, in this area are warranted.

Citing Articles

A high-fat diet supplemented with medium-chain triglycerides ameliorates hepatic steatosis by reducing ceramide and diacylglycerol accumulation in mice.

Mourad S, Abdualkader A, Li X, Jani S, Ceddia R, Al Batran R Exp Physiol. 2024; 109(3):350-364.

PMID: 38192209 PMC: 10988743. DOI: 10.1113/EP091545.

Beneficial Effects of Plant Oils Supplementation on Multiple Sclerosis: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical and Experimental Studies.

Al-Naqeb G, Kalmpourtzidou A, De Giuseppe R, Cena H Nutrients. 2023; 15(22).

PMID: 38004221 PMC: 10674509. DOI: 10.3390/nu15224827.

Differential Immunometabolic Effects of High-Fat Diets Containing Coconut, Sunflower, and Extra Virgin Olive Oils in Female Mice.

Rodriguez-Garcia C, Sanchez-Quesada C, Algarra I, Gaforio J Mol Nutr Food Res. 2022; 66(18):e2200082.

PMID: 35848367 PMC: 9787653. DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202200082.

The effect of coconut oil on anthropometric measurements and irisin levels in overweight individuals.

Meral Koc B, Akyuz E, Ozlu T Int J Obes (Lond). 2022; 46(10):1735-1741.

PMID: 35778479 PMC: 9247948. DOI: 10.1038/s41366-022-01177-1.

Effects of Three-Month Administration of High-Saturated Fat Diet and High-Polyunsaturated Fat Diets with Different Linoleic Acid (LA, C18:2n-6) to α-Linolenic Acid (ALA, C18:3n-3) Ratio on the Mouse Liver Proteome.

Liput K, Lepczynski A, Nawrocka A, Polawska E, Ogluszka M, Jonczy A Nutrients. 2021; 13(5).

PMID: 34063343 PMC: 8156955. DOI: 10.3390/nu13051678.

References

KOVACS E, Westerterp-Plantenga M, de Vries M, Brouns F, Saris W . Effects of 2-week ingestion of (-)-hydroxycitrate and (-)-hydroxycitrate combined with medium-chain triglycerides on satiety and food intake. Physiol Behav. 2002; 74(4-5):543-9. DOI: 10.1016/s0031-9384(01)00594-7. View

St-Onge M, Jones P . Greater rise in fat oxidation with medium-chain triglyceride consumption relative to long-chain triglyceride is associated with lower initial body weight and greater loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003; 27(12):1565-71. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802467. View

Flatt J, Ravussin E, Acheson K, Jequier E . Effects of dietary fat on postprandial substrate oxidation and on carbohydrate and fat balances. J Clin Invest. 1985; 76(3):1019-24. PMC: 423974. DOI: 10.1172/JCI112054. View

Tsuji H, Kasai M, Takeuchi H, Nakamura M, Okazaki M, Kondo K . Dietary medium-chain triacylglycerols suppress accumulation of body fat in a double-blind, controlled trial in healthy men and women. J Nutr. 2001; 131(11):2853-9. DOI: 10.1093/jn/131.11.2853. View

Coleman H, Quinn P, Clegg M . Medium-chain triglycerides and conjugated linoleic acids in beverage form increase satiety and reduce food intake in humans. Nutr Res. 2016; 36(6):526-33. DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2016.01.004. View

Poppitt S, Strik C, MacGibbon A, McArdle B, Budgett S, McGill A . Fatty acid chain length, postprandial satiety and food intake in lean men. Physiol Behav. 2010; 101(1):161-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.04.036. View

Scalfi L, Coltorti A, Contaldo F . Postprandial thermogenesis in lean and obese subjects after meals supplemented with medium-chain and long-chain triglycerides. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991; 53(5):1130-3. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/53.5.1130. View

St-Onge M, Bourque C, Jones P, Ross R, Parsons W . Medium- versus long-chain triglycerides for 27 days increases fat oxidation and energy expenditure without resulting in changes in body composition in overweight women. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003; 27(1):95-102. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802169. View

Denke M, Grundy S . Comparison of effects of lauric acid and palmitic acid on plasma lipids and lipoproteins. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992; 56(5):895-8. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/56.5.895. View

10.

Orsavova J, Misurcova L, Ambrozova J, Vicha R, Mlcek J . Fatty Acids Composition of Vegetable Oils and Its Contribution to Dietary Energy Intake and Dependence of Cardiovascular Mortality on Dietary Intake of Fatty Acids. Int J Mol Sci. 2015; 16(6):12871-90. PMC: 4490476. DOI: 10.3390/ijms160612871. View

11.

Dulloo A, Fathi M, Mensi N, Girardier L . Twenty-four-hour energy expenditure and urinary catecholamines of humans consuming low-to-moderate amounts of medium-chain triglycerides: a dose-response study in a human respiratory chamber. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1996; 50(3):152-8. View

12.

Fernandes J, VAN DE KAMER J, WEIJERS H . Differences in absorption of the various fatty acids studied in children with steatorrhea. J Clin Invest. 1962; 41:488-94. PMC: 290942. DOI: 10.1172/JCI104502. View

13.

Stubbs R, Harbron C . Covert manipulation of the ratio of medium- to long-chain triglycerides in isoenergetically dense diets: effect on food intake in ad libitum feeding men. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1996; 20(5):435-44. View

14.

Binnert C, Pachiaudi C, Beylot M, Hans D, Vandermander J, Chantre P . Influence of human obesity on the metabolic fate of dietary long- and medium-chain triacylglycerols. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998; 67(4):595-601. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/67.4.595. View

15.

White M, Papamandjaris A, Jones P . Enhanced postprandial energy expenditure with medium-chain fatty acid feeding is attenuated after 14 d in premenopausal women. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999; 69(5):883-9. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/69.5.883. View

16.

Rolls B, Gnizak N, Summerfelt A, Laster L . Food intake in dieters and nondieters after a liquid meal containing medium-chain triglycerides. Am J Clin Nutr. 1988; 48(1):66-71. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/48.1.66. View

17.

Nosaka N, Maki H, Suzuki Y, Haruna H, Ohara A, Kasai M . Effects of margarine containing medium-chain triacylglycerols on body fat reduction in humans. J Atheroscler Thromb. 2004; 10(5):290-8. DOI: 10.5551/jat.10.290. View

18.

Papamandjaris A, White M, Jones P . Components of total energy expenditure in healthy young women are not affected after 14 days of feeding with medium-versus long-chain triglycerides. Obes Res. 1999; 7(3):273-80. DOI: 10.1002/j.1550-8528.1999.tb00406.x. View

19.

Krotkiewski M . Value of VLCD supplementation with medium chain triglycerides. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2001; 25(9):1393-400. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0801682. View

20.

Yost T, Eckel R . Hypocaloric feeding in obese women: metabolic effects of medium-chain triglyceride substitution. Am J Clin Nutr. 1989; 49(2):326-30. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/49.2.326. View