Coconut
What is a Coconut?
Coconuts are an excellent source of healthy fats & minerals to add to your diet, and may even have brain-boosting, pro-metabolic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal benefits.
Compared to other fruits, coconuts differ in that they don’t contain many carbohydrates and they're rich in saturated fatty acids, specifically medium-chain triglycerides, which confer various health benefits. Unlike other types of saturated fatty acids, medium-chain triglycerides are typically less inflammatory and are used directly as fuel in your body.
The processing of coconuts can vary greatly, and they can be consumed in various forms: oil, milk, butter, water, fresh meat, shredded, flaked, etc.
Coconuts may improve metabolic function, as coconut is a reservoir of medium-chain triglycerides, which have been linked to improved mitochondrial health and function. [1] Refer to the research section at the bottom of the page for an explanation as to why this is relevant for children with ASD. Click here to read about mitochondrial dysfunction.
Coconut may also help alleviate specific conditions associated with ASD such as candida (yeast) overgrowth and low blood cholesterol levels.
Nutrient Breakdown
Coconuts are actually considered a nut and not a fruit, as they come from the fruit of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). Most fruits are a source of carbohydrates, however, coconuts differ in that they’re almost entirely made up of fat.
Coconuts are a great source of:
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are a type of saturated fatty acids that are absorbed directly from the intestine and sent to the liver to be used as fuel. MCTs are helpful for supporting weight management, cognitive function, inflammation, and decreasing metabolic syndrome [2].
Foods Containing Coconut
Coconut flour
Coconut butter (manna)
Coconut oil
Fresh coconut meat
Coconut flakes
Shredded coconut
Coconut milk
Coconut yogurt
Coconut Alternatives
Almond flour
Nut butter (cashew, almond, and peanut butter)
Butter
Olive oil
Avocado oil
Almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk
Almond milk yogurt or dairy yogurt
Food Reactions
The body can respond to foods in many different ways including food allergies, food sensitivities, or food intolerances. If you suspect a food reaction, you can either choose to avoid the food or seek food reaction testing. Click here more information on the difference in types of food reactions and testing options.
DISCLAIMER: Always consult with your pediatrician and/or your Registered Dietitian to help you test for a food reaction or to aid you in making individualized dietary changes.
Coconut & Autism in the Research
There are not currently any studies specifically linking coconuts and autism, but there are several studies that indicate the importance of some of the healthy fats and micronutrients found in coconut in treating some of the coinciding issues experienced by children with autism.
MCTs and Metabolism
Medium-chain triglycerides are found in abundance in coconuts. It’s estimated that these fatty acids constitute up to 60% of the fats in coconut oil. [3]
Researchers found that MCTs can up-regulate the expression and levels of genes involved in the creation of new mitochondria and their metabolism.
This is important when looking at autism in children, as it’s estimated that the prevalence of mitochondrial dysfunction in the ASD population is about 500 times higher than that found in the general population. [4]
Caprylic Acid and Candida
The gastrointestinal tract of humans contains both bacteria and yeast. Problems can arise when there is an imbalance of either of these, and an imbalance of yeast often leads to yeast overgrowth.
Candida is one of the most common species of yeast found in the gastrointestinal tract that can overgrow and cause symptoms.
Researchers comparing candida in the GI tract of subjects with ASD vs. controls found more than double the amount of candida in ASD subjects. [5]
Some of the symptoms of candida overgrowth coincide with symptoms experienced in children with autism such as brain fog, hyperactivity, sleep issues, and gastrointestinal issues.
Caprylic acid, a type of MCT found in coconut, has been proven to be effective as an anti-fungal against candida overgrowth. [6]
Lauric Acid and Cognition
Lauric acid, a type of MCT found in coconut, has been proven in cell line studies to potently and directly activate ketogenesis in astrocytes, a type of neuronal cell that plays a role in the maintenance and creation of neurons in the brain. [7]
An activation of ketogenesis or the use of fatty acids as fuel for brain cells provides fuel to neighboring neurons, thus, improving brain health.
Although research is relatively new and needs to be further studied in human trials, cognitive dysfunction is often seen in children with autism and this could potentially be an easy thing to incorporate to help improve cognition.
Coconuts and Heart Health
Researchers have found an association between hypocholesterolemia (low blood cholesterol levels) and ASD. Hypercholesterolemia was found to be four times higher in ASD subjects compared to the general population. [8]
Cholesterol is needed for the production of steroid hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. These hormones contribute to various functions in the body, so it makes sense why these findings indicate that having ASD and low cholesterol increases the risk for intellectual disability and anxiety/depression.
Coconut, specifically coconut oil, has been shown to increase both HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. [9]
-
[1] Wang, Y., Liu, Z., Han, Y., Xu, J., Huang, W., & Li, Z. (2018). Medium Chain Triglycerides enhances exercise endurance through the increased mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism. PloS one, 13(2), e0191182. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191182
[2] Thomas, D. D., Stockman, M. C., Yu, L., Meshulam, T., McCarthy, A. C., Ionson, A., Burritt, N., Deeney, J., Cabral, H., Corkey, B., Istfan, N., & Apovian, C. M. (2019). Effects of medium chain triglycerides supplementation on insulin sensitivity and beta cell function: A feasibility study. PloS one, 14(12), e0226200. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226200
[3] Wang, J., Wang, X., Li, J., Chen, Y., Yang, W., & Zhang, L. (2015). Effects of Dietary Coconut Oil as a Medium-chain Fatty Acid Source on Performance, Carcass Composition and Serum Lipids in Male Broilers. Asian-Australasian journal of animal sciences, 28(2), 223–230. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.14.0328
[4] Cheng, N., Rho, J. M., & Masino, S. A. (2017). Metabolic Dysfunction Underlying Autism Spectrum Disorder and Potential Treatment Approaches. Frontiers in molecular neuroscience, 10, 34. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2017.00034
[5] Strati, F., Cavalieri, D., Albanese, D., De Felice, C., Donati, C., Hayek, J., Jousson, O., Leoncini, S., Renzi, D., Calabrò, A., & De Filippo, C. (2017). New evidences on the altered gut microbiota in autism spectrum disorders. Microbiome, 5(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-017-0242-1
[6] Jadhav, A., Mortale, S., Halbandge, S., Jangid, P., Patil, R., Gade, W., Kharat, K., & Karuppayil, S. M. (2017). The Dietary Food Components Capric Acid and Caprylic Acid Inhibit Virulence Factors in Candida albicans Through Multitargeting. Journal of medicinal food, 20(11), 1083–1090. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2017.3971
[7] Nonaka, Y., Takagi, T., Inai, M., Nishimura, S., Urashima, S., Honda, K., Aoyama, T., & Terada, S. (2016). Lauric Acid Stimulates Ketone Body Production in the KT-5 Astrocyte Cell Line. Journal of oleo science, 65(8), 693–699. https://doi.org/10.5650/jos.ess16069
[8] Benachenhou, S., Etcheverry, A., Galarneau, L., Dubé, J., & Çaku, A. (2019). Implication of hypocholesterolemia in autism spectrum disorder and its associated comorbidities: A retrospective case-control study. Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 12(12), 1860–1869. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2183
[9] Neelakantan, N., Seah, J., & van Dam, R. M. (2020). The Effect of Coconut Oil Consumption on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials. Circulation, 141(10), 803–814. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.043052
Authors
Brittyn Coleman, MS, RDN/LD, CLT
Blayne Andrews, Dietetic Intern
