A RANDOMIZED COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF FRESH COCONUT IN A BALANCED YOGIC DIET ON ANTHROPOMETRIC, BIOCHEMICAL, IMMUNOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN HEALTHY ADULTS

Abstract

Background: Since the 70s and 80s, cardiologists have preached that coconuts have saturated fat and are bad for heart health and should be avoided. Findings in the last 2 decades show that Coconut fats are majorly made of medium chain saturated fatty acids and these have many beneficial effects on human health. So, there is a need to distinguish between the short, medium and long chain saturated fatty acids (SCSFA, MCSFA and LCSFA) and also the source of saturated fatty acid (SFA) (plant or animal) to appreciate the benefits. We found no studies addressing this important clinical question on fresh coconut. There are many studies on coconut oil but are contradictory or show neutral results. It is of significant relevance to Indians as we conventionally use raw (fresh/dry) coconut sumptuously in everyday cooking and we enjoy doing so. Coconut intervention was given in a Yogic balanced diet. Right kind of food is the central concept for all Yogic practices and lot has been written in all our ancient scriptures and texts. We consolidated few major concepts on food and combined it with concepts of modern medical nutrition to arrive at a practical Yoga based balanced diet. Aim and Objectives: Aim: The aim is to investigate the effect of fresh coconut provided in a Yoga based diet on bio chemical, anthropometric, physical, immunological parameters, psychological and personality traits (Gunas) in normal adults. Objectives: To compile data and conceptualise a balanced diet based on the Yogic principles of Satva, Rajas, Tamas and RDA of Medical Nutrition. To investigate whether daily consumption of fresh coconut in a Yoga based balanced diet impacts plasma lipid profile, erythrocyte lipid profile, high density lipoprotein (HDL) associated enzymes, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, blood glucose, insulin, haemoglobin, inflammatory markers, psychological and personality traits(Gunas) in healthy adults. Methods: Setting: Prashanti Kutiram, SVYASA University, Jigani, Bangalore. Participants: Eighty healthy volunteers, between the age of 18 to 40 years, both male and female. Design: The present study is a randomized comparative trial. Selected subjects were randomly allocated to one of the two groups i.e., (1) Coconut group or (2) Ground nut group. They were assessed on day 1, day 30 (only lipid profile), and day 90 of their respective interventions. Duration: 90 days of intervention Assessments: Biochemical, Anthropometric, Physical, Immunological measurements, Psychological and Personality (Gunas) traits were assessed. Intervention: Coconut Group (experimental group): 40 Normal adults: Balanced Yoga based diet + 100g of fresh coconut per day: for 90 days Ground nut Group(comparative group): 40 Normal adults: Balanced Yoga based diet + 45g ground nuts plus 22g ground nut oil per day: for 90 days Results: Coconut diet was seen to increase both LDL as well as HDL levels significantly. In contrast the groundnut diet decreased total cholesterol, mainly due to a significant decrease in HDL levels. There were no differences in the major SFA of erythrocytes with either coconut or groundnut consumption. However coconut consumption resulted in an increase in C14:0 and C24:0 along with a decrease in levels of C18:1 n9 (oleic acid). Furthermore, there was a significant increase in levels of C20:3 n6 (Dihomo gamma linolenic acid - DGLA). In the groundnut group, there was a decrease in 14:0, and a corresponding increase in 22:0 and 24:0. There was also a decrease in total n3 PUFA in the groundnut group. Body weight decreased significantly in coconut group but not in ground nut group. Fasting blood glucose decreased significantly and haemoglobin increased significantly, in both the groups. A significant increase in diastolic pressure was seen in ground nut group. Serum paraoxonase (PON 1) myeloperoxidase (MPO) increased significantly and Platelet activating factor (PAF) decreased significantly in ground nut group. All the psychological parameters and personality (Gunas) traits improved in both the groups. Conclusions: Consumption of high SFA containing coconut for 3 months had significant positive effect on varied vital parameters like anthropometric measurements, lipid related factors, blood sugar, blood pressure, haemoglobin, personality and psychological parameters, relative to consumption of an evidence based healthy fat monounsaturated fatty acid – MUFA (through groundnut). Thus this study suggests that regular, short term consumption of fresh coconut (100g) is not deleterious to heart health but is beneficial. More studies need to be conducted with larger sample sizes and longer period of time.