Coconut Oil Promotes Greater Satiety and Reduces Blood Cholesterol, But Induces Obesity, Anxiety and Impaired Bone Formation in Adult Wistar Rats

摘要

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional effects of supplementation with virgin coconut oil (VCO) in Wistar rats over a sub-chronic period (6 weeks).Methods Twelve Wistar rats were used and randomly assigned to receive (n = 6):Control - lab chow; Coconut oil (CO) - lab chow with added virgin coconut oil (20). Food and caloric intake, weight gain,food efficiency, body mass index, femur and tibia length, bone mineral composition and blood biochemistry were evaluated.Result TheCO group showed an energy intake closed to Control group. Also, the supplementation with VCO generated a decrease in total blood cholesterol as compared to the Control group. However, the CO group showed accumulation of fat mass, shorter femur length and anxiogenesis inrelation to the Control group. These results indicate few beneficial effects from the sub-chronic useof VCO and indicate that its consumption in large quantities for long periods should be questioned.