Exploring Coconut Oil: A Comprehensive Review of Its Health Implications, Extraction Methods, and Bioactive Mechanisms

Dr. Sarah J. O’Connell, PhD; Dr. Fatima S. Al-Harbi, PhD, RN; Dr. Fatima H. Al-Mutairi, PhD

Authors

Dr. Sarah J. O’Connell, PhD School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Dr. Fatima S. Al-Harbi, PhD, RN Department of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Dr. Fatima H. Al-Mutairi, PhD Department of Food Science and Nutrition, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Keywords:

coconut oil, health effects, extraction methods, bioactive compounds, medium-chain fatty acids, cardiovascular health, antimicrobial properties, nutrition, therapeutic potential

Abstract

This comprehensive review explores coconut oil, focusing on its health implications, extraction methods, and bioactive mechanisms. The paper examines various extraction techniques, including cold-pressing and refining, highlighting their impact on oil quality and nutrient retention. It also discusses the health benefits and risks associated with coconut oil consumption, such as effects on cardiovascular health, antimicrobial properties, and metabolic influences. Furthermore, the review delves into the bioactive compounds present in coconut oil, including medium-chain fatty acids and antioxidants, explaining their physiological roles and therapeutic potential. This synthesis aims to provide a balanced understanding of coconut oil’s applications in nutrition and medicine, guiding future research and consumer awareness.

References

Joshi, S., Kaushik, V., Gode, V., & Mhaskar, S. (2020). Coconut Oil and Immunity: What do we really know about it so far? The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, 68(7), 67–72.

Devraj, V. (2022). Importance of coconut oil in Ayurveda. Sitaram retreat. Link.

Jadhav, H. B., & Annapure, U. S. (2023). Triglycerides of medium-chain fatty acids: a concise review. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 60(8), 2143–2152.

Dayrit, F. M. (2015). The properties of lauric acid and their significance in coconut oil. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, 92(1), 1-15.

Maher, T., & Clegg, M. E. (2021). A systematic review and meta-analysis of medium-chain triglycerides effects on acute satiety and food intake. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 61(4), 636–648. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2020.1742654

Ng, Y. J., Tham, P. E., Khoo, K. S., Cheng, C. K., Chew, K. W., & Show, P. L. (2021). A comprehensive review on the techniques for coconut oil extraction and its application. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 44(9), 1807–1818. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-021-02577-9

Sundrasegaran, S., Hui Mah (2020). Extraction Methods of Virgin Coconut Oil and Palm-pressed Mesocarp Oil and their Phytonutrients. International Association of Dietetic Nutrition and Safety. https://doi.org/10.2991/efood.k.201106.001

Agarwal, R. K., Bosco, S.J.D. (2017). Extraction processes of virgin coconut oil. MOJ Food Process Technol., 4(2), 54-56. DOI: 10.15406/mojfpt.2017.04.00087

Ramya, V., Shyam, K. P., Kowsalya, E., Balavigneswaran, C. K., & Kadalmani, B. (2022). Dual Roles of Coconut Oil and Its Cytoprotection and Cancer Cell Death. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, 833630. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.833630

Widianingrum, D. C., Noviandi, C. T., & Salasia, S. I. O. (2019). Antibacterial and immunomodulator activities of virgin coconut oil (VCO) against Staphylococcus aureus. Heliyon, 5(10), e02612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02612

Woolley, J., Gibbons, T., Patel, K., & Sacco, R. (2020). The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review. Heliyon, 6(8), e04789. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04789

Shanbhag, V. K. (2016). Oil pulling for maintaining oral hygiene - A review. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 7(1), 106–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.05.004

Naseem, M., Khiyani, M. F., Nauman, H., Zafar, M. S., Shah, A. H., & Khalil, H. S. (2017). Oil pulling and importance of traditional medicine in oral health maintenance. International Journal of Health Sciences, 11(4), 65–70.

Ingle, D.L., Driedger, A., Traul, K.A., & Nakhasi, D.K. (1999). Dietary Energy Value of Medium‐chain Triglycerides. Journal of Food Science, 64, 960-963.

Silalahi, J. (2020). Nutritional Values and Health Protective Properties of Coconut Oil. Indonesian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 3(2), 01–12.

Eyres, L., Eyres, M. F., Chisholm, A., & Brown, R. C. (2016). Coconut oil consumption and cardiovascular risk factors in humans. Nutrition Reviews, 74(4), 267–280. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuw002

Adel, K. (2019). Is MCT Oil Beneficial for the Brain and for Weight Loss? https://www.soscuisine.com/blog/mct-oil-beneficial-brain-weight-loss/

McCarty, M. F., & DiNicolantonio, J. J. (2016). Lauric acid-rich medium-chain triglycerides can substitute for other oils in cooking applications and may have limited pathogenicity. Open Heart, 3(2), e000467.

Varma, S. R., Sivaprakasam, T. O., Arumugam, I., Dilip, N., Raghuraman, M., Pavan, K. B., Rafiq, M., & Paramesh, R. (2018). In vitro anti-inflammatory and skin protective properties of Virgin coconut oil. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 9(1), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2017.06.012

Saxena, R., Mittal, P., Clavaud, C., Dhakan, D. B., Roy, N., Breton, L., Misra, N., & Sharma, V. K. (2021). Longitudinal study of the scalp microbiome suggests coconut oil to enrich healthy scalp commensals. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 7220. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-86454-1

Deen, A., Visvanathan, R., Wickramarachchi, D., Marikkar, N., Nammi, S., Jayawardana, B. C., & Liyanage, R. (2021). Chemical composition and health benefits of coconut oil: an overview. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 101(6), 2182–2193. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.10870

Suryani, S., Sariani, S., Earnestly F., Marganof, M., Rahmawati, R., Sevindrajuta, S., Mahlia, Fudholi, A. (2020). A Comparative Study of Virgin Coconut Oil, Coconut Oil and Palm Oil in Terms of Their Active Ingredients. Processes, 8(4), 402. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8040402

Widhiarta, D.K. (2016). Virgin Coconut Oil for HIV-Positive. Journal of Nursing Practices and Research (JNPR), 4(1), February 2024.

Peedikayil, F. C., Sreenivasan, P., & Narayanan, A. (2015). Effect of coconut oil in plaque related gingivitis - A preliminary report. Nigerian Medical Journal, 56(2), 143–147. https://doi.org/10.4103/0300-1652.153406

Evangelista, M. T., Abad-Casintahan, F., & Lopez-Villafuerte, L. (2014). The effect of topical virgin coconut oil on SCORAD index, transepidermal water loss, and skin capacitance in mild to moderate pediatric atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. International Journal of Dermatology, 53(1), 100–108. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.12339

Marina, A. M., Che Man, Y. B., & Amin, I. (2009). Virgin coconut oil: emerging functional food oil. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 20(10), 481-487.

Pupala, S. S., Rao, S., Strunk, T., & Patole, S. (2019). Topical application of coconut oil to the skin of preterm infants: a systematic review. European Journal of Pediatrics, 178(9), 1317–1324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-019-03407-7

Frontiers in Emerging Multidisciplinary Sciences

Article Details Page