Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Nutr Neurosci. 2024 May;27(5):487-498. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2023.2223390. Epub 2023 Jul 6.
Metabolic syndrome is associated with health conditions and neurological disorders. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a protective role on the nervous system. Decreased levels of BDNF have been shown in MetS and neurodegenerative diseases. There is promising evidence regarding the anti-inflammatory antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties of virgin coconut oil (VCO). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of VCO consumption on serum BDNF levels, oxidative stress status, and insulin resistance in adults with MetS.
This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 48 adults with MetS aged 20-50 years. The intervention group received 30 ml of VCO daily to substitute the same amounts of oil in their usual diet. The control group continued their usual diet. Serum BDNF levels, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as HOMA-IR and QUICKI index were measured after four weeks of intervention.
VCO consumption significantly reduced serum levels of MDA ( = .01), fasting insulin ( < .01) and HOMA-IR index (< .01) and increased serum TAC (< .01) and QUICKI index (= .01) compared to the control group. Serum BDNF levels increased significantly in VCO group compared to the baseline (= .02); however, this change was not significant when compared to the control group (= .07).
VCO consumption improved oxidative stress status and insulin resistance and had a promising effect on BDNF levels in adults with MetS. Further studies are needed to understand the long-term effects of VCO consumption.
代谢综合征与健康状况和神经紊乱有关。脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）对神经系统具有保护作用。代谢综合征和神经退行性疾病患者的 BDNF 水平降低。初榨椰子油（VCO）具有抗炎、抗氧化和神经保护作用，这方面有很有前景的证据。本研究旨在评估 VCO 摄入对代谢综合征患者血清 BDNF 水平、氧化应激状态和胰岛素抵抗的影响。
这项随机对照临床试验招募了 48 名年龄在 20-50 岁之间的代谢综合征患者。干预组每天摄入 30ml 的 VCO，以替代其日常饮食中的等量油。对照组继续其常规饮食。干预四周后，测量血清 BDNF 水平、总抗氧化能力（TAC）、丙二醛（MDA）以及 HOMA-IR 和 QUICKI 指数。
与对照组相比，VCO 摄入显著降低了血清 MDA 水平（ = .01）、空腹胰岛素水平（ < .01）和 HOMA-IR 指数（< .01），并增加了血清 TAC（< .01）和 QUICKI 指数（= .01）。与基线相比，VCO 组血清 BDNF 水平显著升高（= .02）；然而，与对照组相比，这一变化没有统计学意义（= .07）。
VCO 摄入改善了代谢综合征患者的氧化应激状态和胰岛素抵抗，对 BDNF 水平有积极影响。需要进一步研究来了解 VCO 摄入的长期效果。
