Dose-dependent effect of coconut oil supplementation on obesity indices: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of clinical trials
Abstract Background Coconut oil has been suggested as a potential dietary intervention for weight management. However, the evidence regarding the effects of coconut oil supplementation on anthropometric measures (body weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC)) remains inconclusive....
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01090-6 |
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| author | Zahra Gaeini Zahra Bahadoran Hanieh Malmir Parvin Mirmiran |
| author_facet | Zahra Gaeini Zahra Bahadoran Hanieh Malmir Parvin Mirmiran |
| author_sort | Zahra Gaeini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Coconut oil has been suggested as a potential dietary intervention for weight management. However, the evidence regarding the effects of coconut oil supplementation on anthropometric measures (body weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC)) remains inconclusive. Objective we aimed to assess the overall effect of coconut oil supplementation on these anthropometric parameters and explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Methods We comprehensively searched electronic databases using appropriate keywords. We included 15 studies with the following criteria: (1) clinical trials in adults, with parallel or cross-over design, (2) evaluated the effect of coconut oil on body weight, BMI or WC, (3) compared the effect of a specific dose of coconut oil against a coconut oil-free diet or other types of oils, (4) considered the change in anthropometric parameters as the primary or one of the secondary outcomes, (5) provided mean and standard deviation (SD) of change in anthropometric parameters across study arms, (6) reported the number of participants in each study arm. Results The trials included 620 participants and assessed the effects of coconut oil supplementation on body weight, BMI and WC. Our meta-analysis revealed statistically significant effects of coconut oil supplementation on weight and BMI, with mean differences of 0.04 kg (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.08 kg) and 0.01 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.00 to 0.02). However, the effects were not clinically meaningful. There was no significant effect of coconut oil on WC. Subgroup analyses suggested that the duration of the intervention may influence the effect of coconut oil on body weight. In the sensitivity analysis, we found that the result of one study influenced the associations between coconut oil supplementation and weight or BMI. Conclusions Overall, our findings suggest no clinically significant effects of coconut oil supplementation on weight loss. Further research is needed to clarify the issue. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD420251031291. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ec36e7f44e6f40daa57c28e197cfd5dd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2055-0928 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-ec36e7f44e6f40daa57c28e197cfd5dd2025-08-20T02:05:46ZengBMCBMC Nutrition2055-09282025-06-011111910.1186/s40795-025-01090-6Dose-dependent effect of coconut oil supplementation on obesity indices: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of clinical trialsZahra Gaeini0Zahra BahadoranHanieh Malmir1Parvin Mirmiran2Nutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesNutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesNutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Coconut oil has been suggested as a potential dietary intervention for weight management. However, the evidence regarding the effects of coconut oil supplementation on anthropometric measures (body weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC)) remains inconclusive. Objective we aimed to assess the overall effect of coconut oil supplementation on these anthropometric parameters and explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Methods We comprehensively searched electronic databases using appropriate keywords. We included 15 studies with the following criteria: (1) clinical trials in adults, with parallel or cross-over design, (2) evaluated the effect of coconut oil on body weight, BMI or WC, (3) compared the effect of a specific dose of coconut oil against a coconut oil-free diet or other types of oils, (4) considered the change in anthropometric parameters as the primary or one of the secondary outcomes, (5) provided mean and standard deviation (SD) of change in anthropometric parameters across study arms, (6) reported the number of participants in each study arm. Results The trials included 620 participants and assessed the effects of coconut oil supplementation on body weight, BMI and WC. Our meta-analysis revealed statistically significant effects of coconut oil supplementation on weight and BMI, with mean differences of 0.04 kg (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.08 kg) and 0.01 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.00 to 0.02). However, the effects were not clinically meaningful. There was no significant effect of coconut oil on WC. Subgroup analyses suggested that the duration of the intervention may influence the effect of coconut oil on body weight. In the sensitivity analysis, we found that the result of one study influenced the associations between coconut oil supplementation and weight or BMI. Conclusions Overall, our findings suggest no clinically significant effects of coconut oil supplementation on weight loss. Further research is needed to clarify the issue. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD420251031291.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01090-6Coconut oilWeightBody mass indexWaist circumference |
| spellingShingle | Zahra Gaeini Zahra Bahadoran Hanieh Malmir Parvin Mirmiran Dose-dependent effect of coconut oil supplementation on obesity indices: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of clinical trials BMC Nutrition Coconut oil Weight Body mass index Waist circumference |
| title | Dose-dependent effect of coconut oil supplementation on obesity indices: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of clinical trials |
| title_full | Dose-dependent effect of coconut oil supplementation on obesity indices: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of clinical trials |
| title_fullStr | Dose-dependent effect of coconut oil supplementation on obesity indices: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of clinical trials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dose-dependent effect of coconut oil supplementation on obesity indices: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of clinical trials |
| title_short | Dose-dependent effect of coconut oil supplementation on obesity indices: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of clinical trials |
| title_sort | dose dependent effect of coconut oil supplementation on obesity indices a systematic review and dose response meta analysis of clinical trials |
| topic | Coconut oil Weight Body mass index Waist circumference |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01090-6 |
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