title: A randomized study of coconut oil versus sunflower oil on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with stable coronary heart disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Coronary artery disease (CAD) and its pathological atherosclerotic process are closely related to lipids. Lipids levels are in turn influenced by dietary oils and fats. Saturated fatty acids increase the risk for atherosclerosis by increasing the cholesterol level. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of cooking oil media (coconut oil and sunflower oil) on lipid profile, antioxidant mechanism, and endothelial function in patients with established CAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a single center randomized study in India, patients with stable CAD on standard medical care were assigned to receive coconut oil (Group I) or sunflower oil (Group II) as cooking media for 2 years. Anthropometric measurements, serum, lipids, Lipoprotein a, apo B/A-1 ratio, antioxidants, flow-mediated vasodilation, and cardiovascular events were assessed at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hundred patients in each arm completed 2 years with 98% follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference in the anthropometric, biochemical, vascular function, and in cardiovascular events after 2 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coconut oil even though rich in saturated fatty acids in comparison to sunflower oil when used as cooking oil media over a period of 2 years did not change the lipid-related cardiovascular risk factors and events in those receiving standard medical care.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Cardiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University), AIMS Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, India. Electronic address: drmvijay@aims.amrita.edu.
authors.forename: Maniyal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vijayakumar
authors.affiliation: Professor Biochemistry, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University), AIMS Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Vasudevan
authors.affiliation: Professor Biostatistics, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University), AIMS Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Sundaram
authors.affiliation: Professor Biochemistry, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University), AIMS Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Sajitha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center (Amrita Vishwa Vidaypeetham University), India.
authors.forename: Kannan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vaidyanathan
authors.affiliation: Research Fellow, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University), AIMS Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Sandya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nandakumar
authors.affiliation: Professor of Cardiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University), AIMS Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chandrasekhar
authors.affiliation: Professor of Cardiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University), AIMS Ponekkara P.O., Kochi, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Navin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mathew
mesh_terms: D000074263:Coconut Oil; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D008055:Lipids; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D000074263:Coconut Oil
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cholesterol; Coconut oil; Cooking medium; Sunflower oil