title: Coconut oil and palm oil's role in nutrition, health and national development: A review.
abstract: Coconut and palm oils which were the major sources of dietary fats for centuries in most of West Africa have been branded as unhealthy highly saturated fats. Their consumption has been peddled to supposedly raise the level of blood cholesterol, thereby increasing the risk of coronary heart disease. This adverse view has led to a reduction in their consumption in West Africa and they have been substituted for imported vegetable oils. Recent information however, indicates some beneficial effects of these oils particularly their roles in nutrition, health and national development. There is the need for a better understanding of their effects on health, nutritional status and national development. This paper therefore attempts to review the roles which coconut and palm oils play in these respects in developing countries, as a means of advocating for a return to their use in local diets.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None declared.
authors.affiliation: Department Of Food Science And Nutrition, University Of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 134, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Laurene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boateng
authors.affiliation: Department Of Food Science And Nutrition, University Of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 134, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ansong
authors.affiliation: Department Of Food Science And Nutrition, University Of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 134, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Owusu
authors.affiliation: Department Of Food Science And Nutrition, University Of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 134, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Matilda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steiner-Asiedu
mesh_terms: D000354:Africa, Western; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D003906:Developing Countries; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009753:Nutritive Value; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D010938:Plant Oils; D000073878:Palm Oil; D000074263:Coconut Oil
keywords: Palm oil; coconut oil; health; national development; nutrition