Evidence supporting the use of: Coconut oil
For the health condition: Energy (lack of)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Coconut oil is sometimes promoted as an energy booster, primarily due to its high content of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are metabolized differently than long-chain fatty acids. MCTs are absorbed more rapidly in the digestive tract and transported directly to the liver, where they can be quickly converted into energy or ketone bodies. Some small-scale studies have examined the effects of MCTs (often derived from coconut oil) on energy expenditure and exercise performance. These studies suggest that MCTs may modestly increase energy expenditure and fat oxidation compared to long-chain fats, but the effects are generally small and may not translate into noticeable improvements in subjective energy levels for most people. It is important to note that the majority of research uses purified MCT oil rather than coconut oil itself. Coconut oil contains only about 15% caprylic and capric acids (the most ketogenic MCTs), with the rest being lauric acid and long-chain fats. Thus, claims that coconut oil specifically boosts energy are not strongly supported by direct scientific evidence. While the mechanism of rapid MCT metabolism is valid, clinical studies demonstrating a significant impact on fatigue or low energy in the general population are lacking. Overall, coconut oil may have a modest effect on energy metabolism due to its MCT content, but evidence for its use as an energy supplement is limited.
Other ingredients used for Energy (lack of)
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione7-Keto-DHEA
Acai berry
Acetyl L-carnitine
Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
adenosine 5-triphosphate disodium (ATP)
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
Agastache
Akebia
Algae
Algal protein
Almond fruit
Alpha D-ribofuranose
Alpha polylactate
alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG)
alpinia galangal
amino acids
Amor seco
anamu
animal protein
antler
Aralia
Ardisia
Areca
arginine creatine
Arginine malate
Arginine silicate
ashwagandha
aspartic acid
atractylone
ba ji tian
banana
baobab
bee pollen
Beef liver
berry
beta phenethylalamine
beta-alanine
beta-hydroxybutyrate
biotin
black ginger
black pepper
blackthorn
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
bovine protein
bасора
caffeine
capsaicinoids
catecholamine
chia seed
Chlorophytum
chuchuhuasi
Cinnamomum
cistanche
coca
coconut
coconut milk
coconut oil
Codonopsis
Coenzyme A
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
coffee fruit
cola nut
commiphora
cordyceps
creatine monohydrate
curcumen
Cynomorium
D-Ribose
deer root
deer velvet
Dendrobium
dextrates
dextrose
dragonhead
ecdysterone
egg
Egg protein
electrolytes blend (proprietary)
eleuthero
elk antler
ephedrine
Erodium cicutarium
Ethyl-Alpha-Guanido-Methyl-Ethanoate
Eurycoma Longifolia
eurycomanone
folate
fungus
gamma-butyrobetaine
garden cress
ginseng
glucose
GMS-ribose
greens blend (proprietary)
guarana
Guaranine
guayusa
Herb Robert
Higenamine
Ilex
jiaogulan
jungli-bean
ketone salts
ketosterones
kola nut
L-alanyl-L-glutamine
l-carnitine
L-glutamine
L-glycine
L-leucine
l-tyrosine
lemongrass
lipids
maca
macaenes
macamides
magnesium
malic acid
maral root
medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
Methylliberine
Microbial enzymes (proprietary)
Milk
Milk Protein
Ming Dang Shen
Mushroom
Nettle
Orchis latifolia
ornithine L-aspartic acid
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
oxaloacetic acid
pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
paraxanthine
peanut
Petiveria
Phytoecdysteroid
Plankton
pollen
Polygonatum
protein
Pseudostellaria
pyrroloquinoline disodium salt
pyrroloquinoline quinone
Rhodiola
ribose
robusta coffee
rosemary
Rubia yunnanensis
Rubiaceae
Safed musli
sage
Sarivan
shiitake mushroom
Sichuan Lovage
Sida cordifolia
siler root
Southern Tsangshu
Sphaeranthus indicus
spirulina
succinic acid
Sulbutiamine
suma
sweet flag
Synephrine
Tea
Teacrine
Terminalia
Theacrine
Theobromine
Thylakoid
Tongkat ali
trace minerals
Trichilia catigua
Trichopus zeylanicus
vegetable blend (proprietary)
velvet bean
vitamin B
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
Wheat
wheat germ
Whey protein
Wulinshen
Yerba mate
Yuzu
Zedoary
Zinc
Zingiberene
Other health conditions supported by coconut oil
Antibiotics (alternatives to)Athlete's Foot
Backache
Burns and Scalds
Cancer (prevention)
Colds (general)
Constipation (adults)
Cuts
Dandruff
Dermatitis
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Energy (lack of)
Fat Metabolism (poor)
Fungal Infections
Gas and Bloating
Gastritis
Gingivitis
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hemorrhoids
Herpes
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Inflammation
Influenza
Itching
