The Glucose-Lowering Effects of Coconut Oil: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Background. Coconut oil, a saturated fat comprised mostly of the medium-chain fatty acid, lauric acid, has become increasingly popular over the past few decades due to its touted anti-inflammatory, metabolic, and lipid-lowering properties. There have been many studies with mixed results evaluating the effects of coconut oil consumption on lipid metabolism and cardiometabolic risk. However, the effects on glucose metabolism are less clear. There are few trials on the effects of coconut oil on glucose homeostasis but no case reports prior to the current one. Case. We present a case of a 66-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes managed with insulin who developed recurrent hypoglycemia and required reduction in insulin therapy quickly after consuming coconut oil supplementation. Conclusion. This is the first known case report of coconut oil supplementation in a diabetic patient on insulin resulting in hypoglycemia. Review of the literature shows that coconut oil supplementation can have a favorable effect on glycemic control, possibly through phenolic compounds mediating anti-inflammatory effects. This effect is inconsistent throughout the studies reviewed, likely due to variations in types of coconut oil supplementation and scarcity of trials. Further research is required both in animal models and in humans before coconut oil intake is widely advised and popularized. This is especially true in patients with diabetes, who are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and in whom reduction in saturated fat intake is advised.

Coconut products alleviate hyperglycaemic, hyperlipidimic and nephropathy indices in streptozotocin-induced diabetic wistar rats

“…Glucose and glycated haemoglobin have been shown to be reduced by various coconut products in diabetes. For examples, in a review of literature and in a case report, coconut oil has been shown to lower glucose levels in diabetic patients ( Malaeb and Spoke, 2020 ). In male Sprague diabetic rats, coconut water significantly reduced fasting glucose levels ( Dai et al 2021 ).…”

An Intricate Review on Nutritional and Analytical Profiling of Coconut, Flaxseed, Olive, and Sunflower Oil Blends

“…In another study, CO consumption raised TC by 15.42 mg/dL, LDL-C by 10.14 mg/dL, and HDL-C by 2.61 mg/dL, and lowered glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by 0.39 mg/dL, but had no impact on triglycerides (TAG) (4.25 mg/dL) [ 43 ]. The MCTs of CO, as well as its high level of polyphenolic chemicals, which have been linked to its anti-inflammatory and improved metabolic properties, are regarded to provide the foundation for its potential health benefits [ 44 ]. Virgin CO and OO are among the top edible oils that contain antioxidants and help inhibit free radicals due to pancreatic beta-cell damage after alloxan injection and may lower the blood glucose levels while having no deleterious effects on the liver [ 45 ].…”

Physico-chemical properties of kernel from coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) varieties grown at the Kenyan Coast

“…In addition, the palmitate-but not the lauratesupplemented high fat diet caused increased liver enzymes aspartate amino-transferase and alanine aminotransferase (Saraswathi et al, 2020), which predict the development of (pre)diabetes (Oberlinner et al, 2010). The potential benefits of coconut oil against diabetes and other cardiometabolic disorders have indeed been reported, although the results have been mixed (Malaeb and Spoke, 2020). Apart from the medium chain fatty acids, coconut contains the beneficial monoglyceride, monolaurin, which is antimicrobial (antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal), antitoxic, immune-modulating, and metabolic-enhancing, (Azeez, 2007;Ghosh et al, 2014;Pham, 2016).…”