Originally published in A & U Magazine, December 2000, and WellBeing Magazine, June 2001
One of the concerns of health professionals involved in the treatment of HIV+ individuals is finding safe, nontoxic, and effective therapies. Over the years, various practitioners have advocated a plethora of alternative remedies, from acupuncture to herbs. More recently the search has turned up a very unlikely find: coconut oil. Once widely used in cooking, coconut oil has virtually disappeared from the American food supply, being found now only in certain ice creams (e.g., Haagen Daas), baked goods, and macaroons. These days, most people associate coconut oil with cosmetics as it is a popular hair and skin moisturizer.
Ongoing research, however, has revealed a virtual powerhouse of compounds in coconut oil that could offer considerable benefits to those with immune problems. These benefits can be broken into three groups: (1) medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), (2) antimicrobial fatty acids, and (3) safety.
Medium chain triglyceride oils are a special class of fats that are digested and handled by the body in a different way from other fats. In lipid biochemistry, all fatty acids are classified according to the number of carbon atoms present in their structure, as well as the degree of saturation, or how many hydrogen atoms are bonded to the carbons. Short and medium chain triglycerides are those that have fatty acids with 12 carbons or less, while long and very long chain triglycerides are those having 14-24 carbons. A fatty acid that has two hydrogen atoms linked up to each carbon atom is saturated. Further, a fatty acid with two hydrogens missing is monounsaturated. Lastly, a fatty acid with four or more hydrogens missing is polyunsaturated.
The predominant fatty acids in MCT oils are medium chain saturated fatty acids (MCFAs) and over 60% of the fats in coconut are MCFAs. Its important here to note the difference between coconut oil and commercial MCT oils: coconut oil contains a particular fatty acid called laurate, while commercial MCT oil preparations do not. As we shall see, it is primarily lauric acid that makes coconut oil of particular value to immune-compromised individuals.
How are they handled by the body? MCFAs from MCTs are digested and absorbed quickly and used for energy. Since one gram of fat provides over twice as many calories than either one gram of protein or carbohydrate, MCTs are a superior energy source. Because of their quick absorption and combustion, most MCTs are not stored as fat tissue by the body. MCTs actually have a thermogenic, or fat burning, effect. They are fats that help you stay slim by keeping your body fat levels down and your energy levels up. Additionally, because of their easy absorption by the body, MCTs are ideal for those with digestive problems, such as diarrhea, who might be having difficulty with long chain fatty foods.
Coconut oil contains several antimicrobial fatty acids that can directly benefit HIVers and PWAs. The first is caprylic acid. Sold as a supplement in health food stores, this fatty acid has been used for decades as a remedy for intestinal yeast infections as caprylic acid directly kills such potentially harmful fungi as candida albicans and candida tropicalis. Intestinal yeast imbalances are a major concern for those on antibiotics as these drugs kill off the "good" intestinal bacteria that help to control yeast overgrowth. Coconut oil contains about 8% caprylic acid. Given this amount, integrating coconut oil into one's diet could help prevent and treat intestinal yeast overgrowth.
research main page
|