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Reduction of lauric acid content in virgin coconut oil improved plasma lipid profile in high-fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemic mice.

Journal of food science
October 1, 2023
Usana Chatturong et al. (13 authors)
Journal ArticleAnimal Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to compare the effects of virgin coconut oil (VCO), medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), and low lauric acid VCO (LLA) on food intake, body weight, lipid profiles, and hepatic histology in mice fed a high-fat diet.

Results Summary

VCO and MCT improved liver lipid profiles, while LLA enhanced plasma lipids via a better TC:HDL ratio and showed potential for body weight control. All treatments attenuated high-fat diet-induced hepatic fat accumulation, with VCO being the most effective.

Population

Female C57BL/6 mice

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

3 months

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (20)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
high-fat diet (HF)
increase
plasma and liver total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
exhibited high
#1
VCO treatment
decrease
liver total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
lowered
#2
MCT treatment
decrease
liver total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
lowered
#3
low lauric acid VCO (LLA)
increase
plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
increased
#4
low lauric acid VCO (LLA)
increase
TC:HDL ratio
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
markedly improved
#5
VCO treatment
decrease
HF-induced hepatic fat accumulation
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
attenuated
#6
MCT treatment
decrease
HF-induced hepatic fat accumulation
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
attenuated
#7
low lauric acid VCO (LLA)
decrease
HF-induced hepatic fat accumulation
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
attenuated
#8
VCO treatment
decrease
attenuation of HF-induced hepatic fat accumulation
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
was the most effective
#9
low lauric acid VCO (LLA)
decrease
liver total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Control mice
null
demonstrated lower
#10
low lauric acid VCO (LLA)
increase
plasma total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
Control mice
null
demonstrated higher
#11
low lauric acid VCO (LLA)
decrease
BW gain
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
Lowest
#12
low lauric acid VCO (LLA)
decrease
food intake
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
Lowest
#13
VCO
decrease
hepatic histopathology caused by HF
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
ameliorated
#14
MCT
decrease
hepatic histopathology caused by HF
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
ameliorated
#15
low lauric acid VCO (LLA)
decrease
hepatic histopathology caused by HF
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
ameliorated
#16
VCO
increase
liver lipid profiles
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
improved
#17
MCT
increase
liver lipid profiles
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
improved
#18
low lauric acid VCO (LLA)
increase
plasma lipids via a better TC:HDL ratio
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
has more beneficial effect on
#19
low lauric acid VCO (LLA)
decrease
BW control
Female C57BL/6 mice
null
showed promise for
#20
Abstract

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is claimed to have various health benefits, but favorable effects of its major component (∼50%), lauric acid, are controversial. Therefore, we aimed to reduce lauric acid content (∼30%) in VCO and evaluate its effect compared to VCO and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), on food intake, bodyweight (BW), lipid profiles, and hepatic histology. Female C57BL/6 mice were treated with different diets for 3 months: control (normal diet), high-fat diet (HF), HF + VCO, HF + MCT, HF + low lauric acid VCO (LLA), and normal diet + LLA (C + LLA). LLA was prepared by enzymatic interesterification of VCO with methyl octanoate (methyl caprylate) and methyl decanoate (methyl caprate). Plasma and liver lipids, including total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride, were measured by colorimetric assay, and hepatic fat accumulation was examined by oil-red-O staining. HF mice exhibited high plasma and liver TC and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). VCO or MCT treatment lowered liver TC and LDL, whereas LLA increased plasma HDL and markedly improved TC:HDL ratio. The HF-induced hepatic fat accumulation was attenuated by all treatments, of which VCO was the most effective. Control mice administered with LLA demonstrated lower liver TC and LDL, but higher plasma TC and HDL compared to controls. Lowest BW gain and food intake were found in mice treated with LLA. In conclusion, VCO, MCT, and LLA ameliorated hepatic histopathology caused by HF. VCO and MCT improved liver lipid profiles, whereas LLA has more beneficial effect on plasma lipids via a better TC:HDL ratio and showed promise for BW control.

Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
0
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score1.71
Normalized Score0.80
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