Acute Effect of Coconut Oil on Peak Forearm Blood Flow in
Healthy Men: A Randomized Crossover Trial
Kamin Naothaworn MSc¹, Onanong Kulaputana MD, PhD¹ , ² , ⁴, Wilai Anomasiri PhD¹ , ³
Affiliation :
¹ Medical Sciences Program, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand ² Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand ³ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand ⁴ King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : A high-fat meal can induce vascular dysfunction. Despite containing a high amount of saturated fats, coconut oil is claimed to have
cardiovascular health benefits. However, the information regarding the acute effect of coconut oil on vascular function in humans is unknown.
Objective : To determine the effects of coconut oil ingestion experiment (Coco) on peak forearm blood flow (FBF peak ) and plasma biomarkers in healthy subjects.
Materials and Methods : Seventeen healthy young men completed two separate experimental visits, Coco and control experiment (Con) in random order. The outcomes were FBF peak measured by venous occlusion plethysmography and biomarkers as plasma triglycerides, free fatty acids, and malondialdehyde. The outcomes were collected at baseline (12 hour fasting), 2-hour and 4-hour after Coco (45 mL) in the Coco visit and at the same timeline in the control visit. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the data between the two experimental groups and within the group.
Results : FBF peak at 4-hour was significantly increased from the baseline (24.2±4.7 versus 21.7±3.8 mL/100 mL tissue.minute, p=0.009). Plasma triglycerides at 2-hour (75±25 mg/dL, p=0.03) and 4-hour (72±22 mg/dL, p=0.039) were significantly increased from the baseline (65±20 mg/dL). Coco significantly increased plasma free fatty acids at 2-hour (125.1±60.3 μEq/L, p=0.042) and at 4-hour (166.9±35.3 μEq/L, p<0.001) compared to the baseline (87.2±34.0 μEq/L). There were no significant changes in vascular resistance and plasma malondialdehyde.
Conclusion : Coconut oil augmented vascular function in healthy young men by increasing FBF peak despite the accompanying postprandial elevations of plasma triglycerides and free fatty acids.
Received 16 April 2020 | Revised 7 October 2020 | Accepted 7 October 2020
doi.org/10.35755/jmedassocthai.2021.02.11377
Keywords :
Virgin coconut oil, Peak forearm blood flow, Vascular function, Saturated fatty acid, Medium chain triglyceride
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