Reduction of lauric acid content in virgin coconut oil improved plasma lipid profile in high-fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemic mice.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.