Background: Virgin coconut oil (VCO) IS PROMOTED AS A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT for people with various ailments. However, there have been few formal studies to validate its health benefits. Objectives: To determine the effect of VCO on lipid profile, FBS, weight and body mass index (BMI) of healthy humans and evaluate its safety profile by determining effect on creatinine, potassium,AST, ALT and CBC. Methods: Weight and height were obtained from 30 healthy males BMI was computed on first visit. Baseline laboratories were taken: FBS, 2hour glucose after 75 gram oral glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, HDL, creatinine, potassium, AST and ALT, and CBC. each subject took VCO 15 ml. t.i.d before meals. After 6 weeks, repeat laboratory examinations were done. Weight was taken and Bmi recomputed. Adverse events were reported. Results: There was significant increase in mean FBS(76.036.62 mg/dl, p=0.024), significant decrease in HDL (47.58, 7.54 TO 44.09, 7.10, P=0.028), significant increase in a creatinine (76.44, 9.88 umol/L to 82.99, 11 .29 umol/L, p=0.0002) and platelet count (281.03,52.6 X 10/L to 295.1,58.06 X 10/L to 6.855,1.5 x 10/L, p=0.012). There was no effect on the rest of the laboratory examinations done. twenty participants reported mild gastrointestinal (GI) complaints, including diarrhea (8), abdominal pain (3), diarrhea and abdominal pain (5), and diarrhea and vomiting. Conclusion: VCO significantly increases FBS and decreases HDL. VCO also increases creatinine and platelet count and decreases WBC count. Mild GI complaint were the most commonly reported adverse events. Further studies may be needed in order to validate the results of this exploratory study and elucidate the metabolic effects VCO.

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