The Impact of Virgin Coconut and Safflower Oils on Lipids and Cytokines in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

12 women (58.8+3.7 yr, 26.4+4.6 kg/m2) were recruited for a randomized cross‐over study. They consumed 30g virgin coconut oil (CO) or high‐oleic safflower oil (SO) for 28 days (28‐d washout period between oils, 28 d of food records). Diet was not altered. A lipid panel and cytokines (proinflammatory: IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α & anti‐inflammatory: IL10) were obtained pre/post each oil intervention after 12‐hr fast. Data were analyzed using SPSS. MIXED ANOVA showed no intervention effect. Comparisons were analyzed using paired t‐test. Results showed CO significantly raised total cholesterol, TC (+17.0+22.0 mg/dL), low‐density lipoprotein, LDL (+12.1+16.0 mg/dL) & high‐density lipoprotein, HDL (+6.3+7.1 mg/dL) (all p<0.05) but lowered triglycerides, TG (‐8.6+32.1 mg/dL, p=NS). SO lowered TC (‐5.2+15.7 mg/dL), LDL (‐4.9 + 12.5 mg/dL), HDL (‐1.9+5.3 mg/dL), and increased TG (+8.0+48.4) but changes were not significant. TC and HDL were significantly different between test oils, p<0.05. The TC/HDL ratio change showed a neutral effect of both CO and SO, Δ pre/post each= 0 mg/dL. Cytokines results varied. One person had adverse reactions to CO & increased inflammation. CO decreased IL‐1β (cytokine indicative for neurological degeneration) for each person who had a detected sample. CO and SO varied in their impact on other cytokines on an individual basis, some showing increased inflammation, others decreasing inflammation in no consistent manner. Both CO & SO had a neutral impact on lipids. The varied nature of inflammatory markers suggest that there may be epigenetic interactions. More research needs to be conducted to evaluate LDL particle size. Larger sample sizes are needed to determine impact on cytokines before recommendations can be made.