Coconut oil, cholesterol and heart health in recent studies
What it found
Multiple studies found that eating coconut oil raises LDL cholesterol, which could harm the heart.
The authors say benefits seen with pure MCT oils do not apply to coconut oil.
What they found
Studies in people
LDL cholesterol rises
Several studies consistently showed that eating coconut oil raises LDL cholesterol. This could increase the risk of heart problems.
Other findings
MCT oil benefits differ
Coconut oil contains a relatively high amount of MCTs. However, the authors say the benefits seen with commercial MCT oils cannot be applied to coconut oil.
What the authors conclude
- They advise treating coconut oil like any other saturated fat until its long-term effects on the heart are clearly established.
- They recommend keeping intake below 10% of total daily calories, following USDA guidance.
How it was done
Sales of coconut oil have risen because marketing claims it helps with weight loss, immunity, heart health and memory. It is also often described as a great source of medium chain triglycerides, known as MCTs.
The authors looked at recent research on what happens when people eat coconut oil. They checked whether the claimed benefits match the evidence from those studies.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work gathers past studies rather than running a new trial, so it cannot prove cause and effect on its own.
- The long-term effects of coconut oil on heart health are not yet clearly established.
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 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error