COCONUT OIL: Atherogenic or Not

Philippine Journal Of CARDIOLOGY July-September 2003, Volume 31 Number 3:97-104 COCONUT OIL: Atherogenic or Not? (What therefore causes Atherosclerosis?) Conrado S. Dayrit, MD, FPCC, FPCP, FACC*** SUMMARY According to the universally accepted Lipid-Heart Theory, high saturated fats cause hypercholesterolemia and coronary heart disease. Coronary morbidity and mortality are said to be highest in the countries and peoples consuming the highest amounts of saturated fats. Coconut oil, with its saturated medium chain fats, has been especially condemned for this reason. The

true facts are just the opposite. The countries consuming the highest amounts of coconut oil – the Polynesians, Indonesians, Sri Lankans, Indians, Filipinos – have not only low serum cholesterol but also low coronary heart disease rates – morbidity and mortality. The reason why coconut oil cannot be atherogenic is basic. Coco oil consists predominantly of 65% medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) and MCFAs are metabolized rapidly in the liver to energy and do not participate in the biosynthesis and transport of cholesterol. Coconut oil, in fact, tends to raise the HDL and lower the LDL:HDL ratio. Coco oil is not deposited in adipose tissues and therefore does not lead to obesity. It is primarily an energy supplier and as fast a supplier of energy as sugar. MCFAs therefore differ in their metabolism from all the long chain fatty acids, whether saturated or unsaturated. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has recently taken a complete paradigm shift – from a simple deposition of cholesterol and cholesterol esters to an inflammatory condition where numerous genetically dependent factors – dyslipoproteinemias, dysfunctions of endothelial and other cells leading to invasions of the subendothelial region by macrophages, smooth muscle cells, leukocytes and T cells – all...

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