Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Will Coconut Oil Protect You Against Swine Flu’?
Scientific Assessment of Evidence (2009)

The health promoting activity of coconut oil was recognized in Ayurvedic medicine almost 4000 years ago. It was valued for its ability to nourish the body, increase body strength and to protect the skin from bacterial, protozoal and viral infections and promote luxurious hair growth. The first scientific evidence of antimicrobial activity to appear was a report by Chester1 in 1940 that showed oleic acid in soaps could inactivate epidemic influenza virus. The first major break through came from Karbara’s group (Karbara, 1978, 1985, and 1990, 2,3,4) and Sands (1978,5). After non-productive screening of some 300 synthetic lipids for antimicrobial activity Karbara decided to investigate the natural lipids in tropical oils and mother’s milk and showed that only they possessed real healing powers, described as miraculous, and their research identified the most active species was monolaurin, which possesses a broad range of antimicrobial activity without any evidence of toxicity or side effects,1

The main antimicrobial fatty acids in coconut oil are myristic, caprylic, capric and lauric acids which can provide the body with biologically active monoglycerides. Lauric acid is the most abundant (> 50%) and most potent as an antiviral agent. A similar array of these saturates is found in mother’s milk. Butter provides about 12% as lauric acid which is found in all dairy products. Furthermore, all four acids provide protection against a wide range of pathogenic bacteria, fungi and protozoa and are a vital protective component in mother’s milk during the first six months while newborns develop independent immune responses. A mother whose diet is short of saturates will produce underweight offspring more prone to a variety of infections.

Coconut oil has a saturated fat content in excess of 92%. The caprylic, capric and lauric acids total more than 60% and belong to a sub group of saturates known as medium chain fatty acids (MCT’s) which are now known to be easily solubilised and absorbed through intestine mucosa and transported directly to the liver. They do not to enter the cholesterol transport system. Instead they provide a rapid and immediate source of energy, cell membrane repair and new cell growth to epithelial cells throughout the body. Very little is deposited as fat in adipose cells

In 1987 Thormar,6 demonstrated that short chain and long chain saturated fatty acids possessed little or no antiviral effects whereas medium chain saturated and certain long chain unsaturated fats were highly active against enveloped viruses. Viral inactivation varied by as much as 20-fold after enzyme conversion of these fatty acids into monoglycerides; formed during storage of human milk at 4C. The most active substance, monolaurin; a monoglyceride of lauric acid was shown to be released in our bodies, primarily by salivary lipases. Patents were granted in the US in 1989 (Bistrian)7, 1989 (Hierholzer and Kabara)8 and in 1989 and 1994 to Isaac’s group. The last relates more specifically to development of substances which kill enveloped viruses, (Isaacs 1994)9. The viruses listed include influenza, measles and herpes group viruses which include the AIDs virus.

Viruses use our own DNA or RNA to reproduce and, in the case of enveloped viruses, our own fats to form their outer coat. Monolaurin interferes with this process without preventing viral RNA or protein synthesis; a process accompanied by a nine fold increase in cellular synthesis of triacylglycerols. These are thought to bind to cell membrane preventing virus maturation and release (Hornung 1994)10. Lauric acid effects are dose dependent, cumulative and total concentrations critical (Isaacs and Thormar 1990) suggesting regular availability is needed from the diet.

The results from a small trial in 2001,11 suggests that coconut oil is, if anything, more effective in reducing viral loads in HIV patients than monolaurin capsules. Further studies are in progress. Evidence of its immunity boosting effects is reviewed by Enig and Fallon 12,13. This is particularly evident in native communities who derive up to 60% of their energy from coconuts, are exposed to high levels of parasite and bacterial agents because of poor sanitation and untreated water,12 yet still have healthy, smiling children swimming the murky waters of Bangkok’s canals.




References:

1. Chester C, Francis, T. J Exp Med 1940:71, 661-668
2. Karbara, JJ. “Fatty Acids and Derivatives as Antimicrobial Agents – A review in The Pharmacological Effects of Lipids” (Karbara JJ, ed). American Oil Chemists’ Society, Champaign IL, 1978
3. Pharmacological Effects of Lipids Volumes 1,2, and 3 edited by JJ Karbara, AOCS Press, Champaign Illinois, 1978, 1985, 1990, respectively
4. Karbara JJ. Inhibition of staphylococcus aureus in ‘The Pharmacological Effects of Lipids II (JJ Karbara, ed) American Oil Chemists’ Society Champaign IL, 1985, pp. 71-75
5. Sands JA, Auperin DD, Landin PD, Reinhardt A, Cadden SP. Antiviral effects of fatty acids and derivatives: lipid-containing bacteriophages as a model system in ‘The Pharmacological Effects of Lipids (JJ Karbara, ed) American Oil Chemists’ Society Champaign IL, 1978, pp 75-95
6. Thormar H, Isaacs CE, Brown HR, PessollanoT. Inactivation of enveloped viruses and killing of cells by fatty acids and monoglycerides. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 1987; 31: 27-31
7. Bistrian BR, Babayan VK, Blackburn GL. Kernel oils and disease treatment. US Patent No: 4,810,726, 1989
8. Hierholzer JC, Karbara JJ. In vitro effects of monolaurin compounds on enveloped RNA and DNA viruses. J Food Safety 1982; 4: 1-12 US Patent No: 4841023 1989
9. Isaacs CE, Kim KS, Thormar H. Inactivation of enveloped viruses in human bodyily fluids by purified lipids. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1994; 724: 457-464
10. Hornung B, Amtmann E, Sauer G. Lauric acid inhibits the maturation of vesicular stomatitis virus. Journal of General Virology 1994; 75: 353-361
11. Dayrit, CS, Presentation to 37th Cocotech Meeting, India, March 5th 2001, see: http://www.lauric.org/
12. Enig MG. Address to the APPC. Coconut: In support of good health in the 21st century. 2000 www.cocniutresearchcentre.org/article10147.htm
13. Fallon, S. Enig. MG, “Thailand – Land of the Coconut”, Price-Pottinger Nutrition Foundation Health Journal, 1999, 22: No 4.