A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF VIRGIN COCONUT OIL ON THE LIVER FUNCTIONS OF HEALTHY SPRAGUE DAWLEY RATS

Pharmacology Thesis

Medium - chain triglycerides are medium - chain fatty acids of glycerol, which contain six to twelve carbon atoms, and are the main constituent of coconut oil. Coconut oil is also called lauric oil because of its high content of the 12 carbon fatty acid, lauric or dodecanoic acid. Upon ingestion of Lauric acid, it will be taken up to the hepatocytes and are converted to medium - chain fatty acyl CoA and enters the mitochondria where they converted to ketone bodies, acetoacetate and beta - hydroxybutyrate, and subsequently to carbon dioxide, water and energy. Very little amount of MCTs are deposited in the body as fats. Coconut oil is Saturated, omega 3 oil which gives its beneficial effects, but the accumulation of saturated fats in the hepatocytes may result to adverse effects. It may also be contraindicated to those with hepatic failure, cirrhosis, diabetes, acidosis, ketosis, medium chain acyl CoA defiency, and inborn errors of metabolism, contrary to the more popular belief that it is a wonderoil that is able to cure almost all types of disease. The efficiency and negative effects of the coconut oil was tested on Sprague Dawley rat liver by oral route of administration. The subjects were divided into two groups, one group receives VCO 1ml OD and the other group served as the control. Baseline levels of SGPT, PT, PTT and liver albumin were considered as normal level, and the liver profiles obtained at the end of the experiment were compared with the baseline levels.

Department of Pharmacology