COCOHEART STUDY
We are investigating how coconut oil influences heart health. The main purpose of this study is to determine how consuming meals rich in coconut oil influence the levels of blood fats (lipids) and glucose throughout the day compared with meals containing butter and other vegetable oils in healthy men. A secondary aim is to determine the effects of these different dietary fats on a range of other heart disease risk markers including blood clotting and blood vessel elasticity.
High levels of fat in the bloodstream after eating a fatty meal is an important risk factor for developing heart disease. The type of fat eaten in a meal can influence the level of blood fats, with greater responses found after meals containing saturated fats (found in dairy products such as butter) than unsaturated fats (found mainly in vegetable oils). Although coconut oil, is a vegetable oil, it contains high amounts of saturated fats, and has gained in popularity as a cooking oil, but very little is known about how this oil influences blood fat responses and other risk factors for developing heart disease.
We are looking for volunteers who are:
- Male
- Aged 30-65 years
- BMI 19-32 kg/m2
- Non-smokers
- Generally healthy and not taking medication for raised blood lipid levels, blood pressure, inflammation or blood clotting
- Willing to consume coconut oil, butter and vegetable oil
- Able to attend a screening visit (45 min) and 3 main study visits (each lasts approx. 9 h)
- Willing to give blood and breath samples
You will be required to attend the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition at the University of Reading for a short screening session and 3 day-long study visits.