The Effect of Coconut Oil Consumption on Cardiovascular Risk Factors
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials
When I first saw this article title, I thought of my Polynesian travels and especially to the coral atolls of Atafu, Nukunonnu and Fakaofo in the Tuvalu Group.
This is ATAFU.
The above article is a serious condemnation of the cholesterol raising effects of Coconut Oil. We are not sure of the quality of the coconut oils used.
Comment on the above article on New England Journal Watch:
This study confirms our dietary guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease that recommend limiting saturated fat intake. However, although coconut oil increases cholesterol (both LDL and HDL), there are no data showing that this is associated with increased cardiovascular events. Coconut oil, despite being aggressively marketed and perceived as a “natural” and “healthy” fat source, is composed of 90% saturated fat. Although other sources of coconut fat (i.e., coconut milk) were not considered in this analysis, I would counsel patients to consume all sources of saturated fat sparingly.
The above comments were written by a Stanford University academic with MD from Harvard and trained as a Cardiologist at Harvard Hospitals.
There was a commentary by a journalist which sounded like a propaganda for a pharmaceutical company. She quoted several articles to say coconut oil raises cholesterol and then put down the HDL good cholesterol and its significance. It almost sounded unscientific, but after all she is a journalist working for JAMA.
We all know how the journalists who do not have an in depth understanding of medicine or society twist the facts to suit their purpose. I try not to read summaries by medical journalists but try to reach the original article. I have difficulties understanding the nuanced research in my specialized field, but these journalists write as if they are specialists in each of the subspecialties of medicine.
Indigenous coconut products were consumed as part of a traditional diet, which was characterized by a low intake of processed foods. Subsequent to this, a large shift toward the Western diet has occurred among many indigenous populations, as evidenced by imports of unhealthy foods such as corned beef, fast food, and processed ingredients, leading to huge increases in obesity and poor health.
the lead authors belong to New Zealand Oils and Fats Group.
Edible fats and oils are in common use in the home as butter, margarine, dripping and
vegetable oils. The processing of butter is confined to the dairy industry, with the edible fats
and oils industry in New Zealand being concerned with the manufacture of margarine,
cooking fats and confectionery fats.
This article is widely quoted. I have visited the Pacific Polynesian islands that has been ravaged by New Zealand, I agree with him that NZ along with Australia brought obesity, diabetes, heart disease and ill health to the natives of these atolls and it was not the fault of Coconuts!
Coconut Oil contains more saturated fat than Butter but raises LDL cholesterol less than Butter. Can you explain?
Do you prefer to use Palm Oil when you know that Oran Utans in Borneo are loosing their habitat because of increasing Palm Oil Production by Malaysia and Indonesia ?
There are other relevant articles out there too:
Daily Consumption of Virgin Coconut Oil Increases High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized Crossover Trial. From Chiang Mai University in Thailand.
Daily consumption of 30 mL VCO in young healthy adults significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. No major safety issues of taking VCO daily for 8 weeks were reported.
VCO Virgin Pressed Coconut Oil
Another paper from Brasil
Effects of Dietary Coconut Oil on the Biochemical and Anthropometric Profiles of Women Presenting Abdominal Obesity
It appears that dietetic supplementation with coconut oil does not cause dyslipidemia and seems to promote a reduction in abdominal obesity.
Aerial view of Funafuti, the capital of the pacific nation of Tuvalu.
Who was responsible for the ill health of the Tuvaluans?
Coconut Trees ?
Unfortunately Tuvalu is sinking and in the future they may have to move to some real estate in Fiji. Cuba has so far graduated 22 doctors from Tuvalu. There are students from Nauru, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Kiribati studying Medicine in Cuba. They will go back to their coconut fringed islands to save the lives and decrease infant mortality and introduce cuban style public health.
The eastern most polynesian island is Rapa Nui (so far 8 doctors graduated in Cuba)
The above photo in Rapa Nui, on the eastern side of the island.
I was a little surprised by the title of the article. In the West, because of the declining quality of food ( very keenly imitated by countries like Singapore and Malaysia), sudden changes in nutrition are not met with the expectant results.
When native people consume western diet, the ensuing metabolic changes are rather dramatic much out of proportion to the caloric and fat content. Couldnt the reverse happen to the followers of western diet (including Asians) when they try to adopt food habits of other cultures dramatically different from them ?
My take on Coconut Oil.
I will continue using my Organic Cold Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil from Jamaica that I can buy in Miami.
