[KimberleeParticipant]

Thank you Rachel for your response! I appreciate your thorough research on my question. It sounds like coconut oil has a lot of potential benefits, but since our current knowledge is still pretty limited I should only use it in moderation to maintain a balanced intake of saturated to unsaturated fat. I also found an additional possible benefit. One study found that the intake of coconut oil could increase HDL, but it had no effect on LDL or triglyercides. This means coconut oil could lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study noted, however, that additional research is necessary to confirm this association (1).

1. Feranil A, Duazo P, Kuzawa C, Adair L. Coconut oil is associated with a beneficial lipid profile in pre-menopausal women in the Philippines. Asia Pacific Journal Of Clinical Nutrition [serial online]. June 2011;20(2):190-195. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 4, 2015.

[KimberleeParticipant]

Herbal supplements are a growing trend and the claimed benefits are quite vast. The results of studies that look at their benefits or risks vary greatly. For instance, Dhingra et al found one herbal supplement to help with mild to moderate depression(1) while other studies discuss risks like liver damage (2) or lowered immune function (3). The risk of developing these problems also vary for the individual based on external factors such as age, gender, the use of other supplements or medicines, genetics, or alcohol use (2). Another thing that makes determining the risks and benefits of herbal supplements difficult is the fact that safety information on labels is either included or omitted at the discretion of the producer of the supplements (4) and that production of supplements and ingredients vary between manufacturers (2). The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics puts it this way: anything that sounds too good to be true, probably is. Nothing magically burns fat or alters your genetics (5). Use discretion as you use supplements and don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about questions you may have.

References

1. Dhingra S, Parle M. Herbal Remedies and Nutritional Supplements in the Treatment of Depression: A Review. Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bulteni [serial online]. September 2012;22(3):286-292. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 2, 2015.

2. Korth C. Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity of Select Herbal Therapies. Journal Of Pharmacy Practice [serial online]. December 2014;27(6):567-572. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 2, 2015.

3. Beat the Bug. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. http://www.eatright.org/resource/health/wellness/preventing-illness/beat-the-bug. Published January 2014. Accessed March 2, 2015.

4. Gallo E, Giocaliere E, Vannacci A, et al. Anything to declare? Possible risks for patients’ health resulting from undeclared plants in herbal supplements. British Journal Of Clinical Pharmacology [serial online]. March 2012;73(3):482-483. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 2, 2015.

5. Staying Away from Fad Diets. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. http://www.eatright.org/resource/health/weight-loss/fad-diets/staying-away-from-fad-diets. Published February 2014. Accessed March 2, 2015.

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