title: The empiric use of palm kernel oil in neonatal skin care: justifiable or not?
abstract: Palm kernel oil is a vegetable oil derived from Elaeis guineensis and widely used in neonatal settings for skin care. It is a good emollient with a beneficial effect in moisturizing the skin and preventing transdermal heat and water loss. However, it's putative roles in the prevention or treatment of fatty acid defificiency is still controversial. So is its function in the improvement of neurological development from its longchain polyunsaturated fatty acids? We set out in this review to verify whether its empiric use in this context has any scientific justification and is recommendable. Although there is evidence that it has emollient and moisturizing properties necessary for softening the skin and restoring elasticity, controversy subsists on its other nutritional and neurodevelopmental properties.
authors.affiliation: Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon. andy_Chiabi@yahoo.co.hk
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiabi
authors.forename: Maguerite Hortence
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kenmogne
authors.forename: Seraphin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nguefack
authors.forename: Bolaji
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Obadeyi
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mah
authors.forename: Franck Zeh
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Meka
authors.forename: Pierre-Fernand
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Tchokoteu
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mbonda
authors.forename: Tetanye
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ekoe
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D017592:Skin Care
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils; D000073878:Palm Oil