Coconut oil consumption improves fat-free mass, plasma HDL-cholesterol and insulin sensitivity in healthy men with normal BMI compared to peanut oil.

Background & Aims: The existing scientific evidence on coconut oil consumption and its health effects remains inconclusive due to varied reasons. In this context, we conducted a well-controlled metabolic study, eliminating some of the confounding factors and assessed the effects of the consumption of coconut oil-based diet on various anthropometric, biochemical and inflammatory markers and compared with peanut oil-diet.

Methods: Nine healthy male volunteers with BMI ≤25 kg/m were enrolled for this study and given balanced diets prepared with coconut oil (CO; ~35 g) for a period of eight weeks.