Researchers from the Philippines are looking to study the virgin coconut oil (VCO) as a possible treatment for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the Philippine Council on Health Research and Development (PCHRD) under the country's Department of Science and Technology (DOST), said that they are conducting tests on VCO and its properties that can help against the highly contagious disease.
PCHRD-DOST first announced their plans for a "functional food" last February 7. It will be administered to patients suffering from COVID-19, with Dr. Montoya himself confirmed later in the month that the tests would involve coconut oil.
In a statement to NutraIngredientsAsia, Dr. Montoya shared that there were studies regarding the antiviral properties supposedly found in coconut oil as well as its derivatives. Furthermore, PCHRD-DOST is set to start clinical trials to test the efficacy of VCO against COVID-19 in the future.
Antiviral Properties from VCO
In a formal statement released by the School of Science and Engineering of Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) in the Philippines, ADMU Professor Emeritus Dr. Fabian Dayrit and Dr. Mary Newport from Spring Hill Neonatology & Hospice in Florida discuss "the potential use of coconut oil as a safe antiviral agent against the novel coronavirus."
Lauric acid (C12) is a saturated fatty acid with a 12-carbon atom chain, comprising about 50 percent of coconut oil. Its derivative, monolaurin, is a metabolite produced by the human body in response to the ingestion of coconut oil. The paper published by ADMU explains the mechanisms of lauric acid and monolaurin as an antiviral agent through the following steps: (1) disintegration of the virus membrane, (2) inhibition of viral attempts to mature, and (3) prevention of viral proteins from binding to the host's cell membrane.
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The researchers also noted that aside from the lauric acid contributing to the antiviral activity in coconut oil, other substances such as capric acid (C10) and monocaprin also offer promising potentials against other strains of viruses.
Citing previous studies that explore in vitro animal and human studies, the researchers suggested using lauric acid and its derivatives as agents against viruses like the nCoV-2019. However, they recommended that VCO "be considered as a general prophylactic against viral and microbial infection," owing to the safety and availability of the coconut oil.
A Potential Agent Against the Coronavirus
"This treatment is affordable and virtually risk-free, and the potential benefits are enormous," the researchers claimed. Additionally, they have proposed a clinical trial design to be conducted on patients with COVID-19. Prospective participants in the study will be divided into five groups.
The first will be the control group consisting of patients who will receive standard care procedures for COVID-19. A second group will also receive standard care but will be administered VCO in daily dosages of 45mL. The third group will receive, instead of VCO dosages, 800mg doses of Monolaurin with a fourth group receiving monocaprin instead in the same doses. A fifth group will be administered with pharmaceutical-grade Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) at 100mg/kg/day.
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Philippine Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in an interview with CNN Philippines that the National University of Singapore (NUS) has agreed to the government-backed request to test coconut oil as a coronavirus prophylactic. DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña also noted that Filipino scientists, led by Dr. Marissa Alejandria, has conducted studies on the effects of VCO on COVID-19 patients at the Philippine General Hospital.
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