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Cited by 88Coconut Research and ApplicationsFatty Acid Research and HealthLipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health

A randomized study of coconut oil versus sunflower oil on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with stable coronary heart disease

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Vijayakumar, Maniyal, Vasudevan, D.M., Sundaram, K.R., Krishnan, Sajitha, Vaidyanathan, Kannan, Nandakumar, Sandya, Chandrasekhar, Rajiv, Mathew, Navin·2016·Indian Heart Journal
DOI 10.1016/j.ihj.2015.10.384PMC PMC4990731
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE: 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. DESIGN AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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.

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  • In the only study in which all participants received statins, no significant difference was observed in CVD events (2.0% of participants experienced non-fatal MI and 0 experienced stroke and cardiovascular death in both groups).

    “In the only study in which all participants received statins, no significant difference was observed in CVD events (2.0% of participants experienced non-fatal MI and 0 experienced stroke and cardiovascular death in both groups) or LDL-C level (89.6 ± 28.9 mg/dL in intervention and 91.0 ± 21.8 mg/dL in control groups) (25).”

    From Saturated Fat Restriction for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (2025) · cites this paper as [25]

    The Results say all participants were taking statins, and the paper reports no significant difference in cardiovascular events between groups. But the Discussion states that there was no myocardial infarction in either group; the 2% figure refers to repeat revascularization in each group, not non-fatal MI. No page number is available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.90)

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  • In the only study in which all participants received statins, no significant difference was observed in LDL-C level (89.6 ± 28.9 mg/dL in intervention and 91.0 ± 21.8 mg/dL in control groups).

    “In the only study in which all participants received statins, no significant difference was observed in CVD events (2.0% of participants experienced non-fatal MI and 0 experienced stroke and cardiovascular death in both groups) or LDL-C level (89.6 ± 28.9 mg/dL in intervention and 91.0 ± 21.8 mg/dL in control groups) (25).”

    From Saturated Fat Restriction for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (2025) · cites this paper as [25]

    The Results and Discussion state that all participants took statins and that lipid profiles did not differ significantly between the coconut-oil and sunflower-oil groups. The passages in our copy do not give the quoted LDL-C means and standard deviations, so those figures cannot be verified. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Five included studies were conducted in European countries, 2 in the USA, 1 in Australia, and 1 in India.

    “Five studies were conducted in European countries (15), (18), (19), (21), (23), 2 in the USA (20), (22), 1 in Australia (24), and 1 in India (25).”

    From Saturated Fat Restriction for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (2025) · cites this paper as [25]

  • Only 2 included studies included female participants, showing no differences in cardiovascular outcomes between the intervention and control groups.

    “Only 2 studies included female participants, showing no differences in cardiovascular outcomes between the intervention and control groups (22), (25).”

    From Saturated Fat Restriction for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (2025) · cites this paper as [25]

  • Only 1 included study included participants who received statins, and it showed no difference in CVD events between the intervention and control groups.

    “Only 1 study included participants who received statins, and it showed no difference in CVD events between the intervention and control groups (25).”

    From Saturated Fat Restriction for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (2025) · cites this paper as [25]

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References 52 · Cited by 88

Research works printed but not linked: 40

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Authors
Vijayakumar, M., Vasudevan, D. M., Sundaram, K. R., Krishnan, S., Vaidyanathan, K., Nandakumar, S., Chandrasekhar, R., & Mathew, N.
Affiliations
Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (IN)
Corresponding author
Vijayakumar, Maniyal
ORCID
Venue
Indian Heart Journal
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-07
Volume
68
Issue
4
Pages
498-506
ISSN
0019-4832 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.ihj.2015.10.384
PMC
PMC4990731
OpenAlex
W2273941262
Cited by
88
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2
FWCI
3.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Indian Heart Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Inorganic Chemistry › Coconut Research and Applications
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
Keywords
coconut oil, sunflower oil, cooking oil, stable coronary artery disease, saturated fatty acids, lipid profile, lipoprotein(a), antioxidant status, flow-mediated dilation, endothelial function, cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular events
MeSH terms
Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil, Coronary Disease, Dietary Fats, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, India, Lipids, Male, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Plant Oils, Time Factors, Incidence, Single-Blind Method

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