Coconut oil, cholesterol and heart health evidence
What it found
Coconut oil raises LDL cholesterol in several studies, which could work against heart health.
The authors say it should be treated as a saturated fat.
What they found
Studies in people
LDL cholesterol rises
Several studies consistently found that eating coconut oil raises low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). This could increase harm to heart health.
Other findings
MCT claims overstated
Coconut oil does contain a relatively high amount of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). But the authors say the clinical benefits seen with commercial MCT oils cannot be assumed to apply to coconut oil.
Treat as saturated fat
Until the long-term effects of coconut oil on heart health are clearly known, the authors say it should be considered a saturated fat. They say intake should stay under the USDA daily recommendation of less than 10% of total calories.
What the authors conclude
“Until the long-term effects of coconut oil on cardiovascular health are clearly established, coconut oil should be considered as a saturated fat and its consumption should not exceed the USDA's daily recommendation (less than 10% of total calorie intake).”
Also in their conclusions
- They say coconut oil should be considered as a saturated fat and its consumption should not exceed the USDA's daily recommendation (less than 10% of total calorie intake).
- They state that until the long-term effects of coconut oil on cardiovascular health are clearly established, it should not be treated as a proven heart-healthy oil.
How it was done
Sales and use of coconut oil have risen, helped by marketing that claims benefits such as weight loss, better immunity, heart support and memory. The authors wanted to check the evidence behind these claims.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The long-term effects of coconut oil on heart health are not yet clearly established.
- The benefits seen with commercial MCT oils cannot be assumed to apply to coconut oil.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, USA
The paper
- Title
- Are We Going Nuts on Coconut Oil?
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Sankararaman S, Sferra TJ (2018). Are We Going Nuts on Coconut Oil?. Current nutrition reports. doi:10.1007/s13668-018-0230-5PubMed 29974400DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error