Effect of intake of virgin coconut oil (<em>Cocos nucifera</em> L.) on the spleen and small intestinal immune cells and liver lipid of mice

Abstract

Virgin coconut oil (Cocos nucifera L.) (VCO) is consumed worldwide and is rich in medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) and lauric acid (LA). The aim of this study was to examine the immuno-stimulation effect of VCO produced in Sri Lanka. Three groups of mice were fed either a lard diet (L), a fish-oil diet (F) or a coconut oil diet (C) for 6 weeks. During the experimental period, no significant differences in total food intakes or body weights of mice were observed among the three groups. Perirenal fat tissue weight, plasma Triacylglycerol (TG) level and total liver lipids were lower in the F group mice than those in the L and C group mice. The total cholesterol levels in livers of mice in the C group showed higher than that of the other groups. The cytokine IL-12 levels in spleen cells were highest in the C group mice, followed in order by the mice in F and L groups. Our studies clearly show that the plasma IgA and the cytokine IL-12 levels in the spleen and PP cells of mice increased in spite of the accumulation of liver lipids in mice by the intake of VCO produced in Sri Lanka.

Keywords

• coconut oil, medium-chain fatty acids, il-12, lard, fish oil