The Properties of Lauric Acid and Their Significance in Coconut Oil

2014/11/14 by Fabian M. Dayrit · 26 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Chemistry · Nursing · #Antimicrobial #Biochemistry #Biology #Chemistry #Coconut Research and Applications #Coconut oil #Fatty Acid Research and Health #Fatty acid #Food science #Lauric acid #Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies #Organic chemistry #Saturated fatty acid

paper · doi:10.1007/s11746-014-2562-7

openalex publication_date 2014/11/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

Abstract The primary fatty acid of coconut oil is lauric acid, which is present at approximately 45–53 %. The metabolic and physiological properties of lauric acid account for many of the properties of coconut oil. Coconut oil is rapidly metabolized because it is easily absorbed and lauric acid is easily transported. Detailed studies have shown that the majority of ingested lauric acid is transported directly to the liver where it is directly converted to energy and other metabolites rather than being stored as fat. Such metabolites include ketone bodies, which can be used by extrahepatic tissues, such as the brain and heart, as an immediate form of energy. Studies on the effect of lauric acid on serum cholesterol are contradictory. Among saturated fatty acids, lauric acid has been shown to contribute the least to fat accumulation. Lauric acid and monolaurin have demonstrably significant antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria and a number of fungi and viruses. Today there are many commercial products that use lauric acid and monolaurin as antimicrobial agents. Because of the significant differences in the properties of lauric acid relative to longer chain fatty acids, they are typically differentiated as medium‐chain fatty acids covering C6–C12, and long‐chain fatty acids covering C14 and longer.

Citations

• Chemical Properties of Virgin Coconut Oil

Cited by

• Nutritional profiling of plant‐based meat alternatives and ground beef
• Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Euphrasia rostkoviana Hayne Essential Oil. [europepmc]
• Lauric Acid Is an Inhibitor of Clostridium difficile Growth in Vitro and Reduces Inflammation in a Mouse Infection Model. [europepmc]
• Hydrophilic and lipophilic characteristics of non-fatty acid moieties: significant factors affecting antibacterial activity of lauric acid esters. [europepmc]
• Hermetia illucens Larvae Reared on Different Substrates in Broiler Quail Diets: Effect on Physicochemical and Sensory Quality of the Quail Meat. [europepmc]
• Food additive "lauric acid" possess non-toxic profile on biochemical, haematological and histopathological studies in female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. [europepmc]
• Ketosis After Intake of Coconut Oil and Caprylic Acid-With and Without Glucose: A Cross-Over Study in Healthy Older Adults. [europepmc]
• Antimicrobial Effects of Black Soldier Fly and Yellow Mealworm Fats and Their Impact on Gut Microbiota of Growing Rabbits. [europepmc]
• Undecanoic Acid, Lauric Acid, and N-Tridecanoic Acid Inhibit Escherichia coli Persistence and Biofilm Formation. [europepmc]
• In Vitro Protein Digestibility and Fatty Acid Profile of Commercial Plant-Based Milk Alternatives. [europepmc]
• Possible Reduction of Cardiac Risk after Supplementation with Epigallocatechin Gallate and Increase of Ketone Bodies in the Blood in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. A Pilot Study. [europepmc]
• Insect Derived Lauric Acid as Promising Alternative Strategy to Antibiotics in the Antimicrobial Resistance Scenario. [europepmc]
• Dietary Inclusion of Black Soldier Fly ( Hermetia Illucens ) Larvae Meal and Paste Improved Gut Health but Had Minor Effects on Skin Mucus Proteome and Immune Response in Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo Salar ). [europepmc]
• Virgin coconut oil is effective in lowering C-reactive protein levels among suspect and probable cases of COVID-19. [europepmc]
• A metabolomics comparison of plant-based meat and grass-fed meat indicates large nutritional differences despite comparable Nutrition Facts panels. [europepmc]
• Fatty Acids and Nutraceutical Properties of Lipids in Fallow Deer ( Dama dama ) Meat Produced in Organic and Conventional Farming Systems. [europepmc]
• Integrating Serum Metabolome and Gut Microbiome to Evaluate the Benefits of Lauric Acid on Lipopolysaccharide- Challenged Broilers. [europepmc]
• Lauric Acid, a Dietary Saturated Medium-Chain Fatty Acid, Elicits Calcium-Dependent Eryptosis. [europepmc]
• Evaluation of Fermented Oat and Black Soldier Fly Larva as Food Ingredients in Senior Dog Diets. [europepmc]
• Manipulation of fatty acid profile and nutritional quality of Chlorella vulgaris by supplementing with citrus peel fatty acid. [europepmc]
• Tailoring Natural-Based Oleogels Combining Ethylcellulose and Virgin Coconut Oil. [europepmc]
• Immunomodulatory potential of black soldier fly larvae: applications beyond nutrition in animal feeding programs. [europepmc]
• Ultrasound enhanced butyric acid-lauric acid designer lipid synthesis: Based on artificial neural network and changes in enzymatic structure. [europepmc]
• Radiosynthesis, Preclinical, and Clinical Positron Emission Tomography Studies of Carbon-11 Labeled Endogenous and Natural Exogenous Compounds. [europepmc]
• Zinc Laurate Protects against Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction and Inflammation Induced by ETEC in a Mice Model. [europepmc]
• Effects of Short- and Medium-Chain Fatty Acids on Production, Meat Quality, and Microbial Attributes-A Review. [europepmc]

Related

• Chemical Properties of Virgin Coconut Oil
• The Effect of Coconut Oil Consumption on Cardiovascular Risk Factors
• Coconut Milk and Coconut Oil: Their Manufacture Associated with Protein Functionality
• Effects of coconut oil, olive oil, and butter on plasma fatty acids and metabolic risk factors: a randomized trial
• Kokosnussöl