Could coconut oil help to remove that stubborn belly fat around the waist? This study compared the effect of coconut oil and soybean oil in women aged 20-40 years.

1. Coconut Oil and Belly Fat
in 20-40 Year-Old Women
Dr. Alexander Rinehart, DC, MS, CCN, CNS
http://www.DrAlexRinehart.com

2. The Study Design
 Randomized, double blind clinical trial
 40 women aged 20-40 years with waist circumference
greater than 88cm (greater than ~35 inches)
 All instructed to follow “balanced, low calorie diet” and
to walk for 50 minutes per day
 20 women received 30mL (~2 tablespoons) of coconut oil,
the other 20 women received 30mL (~2 tablespoons) of
soybean oil for 12 weeks

3. What was measured?
 Markers of obesity, heart disease, inflammation and insulin
sensitivity measured 1 week prior to intervention & 1 week
after 12 week intervention.
 BMI
 Waist Circumference
 Fasting Glucose
 Triglycerides
 Total Cholesterol
 LDL/HDL fractions
 ultra-sensitive CRP
 Insulin
 HOMA-B% and HOMA-A%

4. Soybean Oil Group
 Lower BMI
 Higher Total Cholesterol
 Higher LDL
 Higher LDL:HDL
 Decreased HDL
 NO Change in Waist Circumference

5. Coconut Oil Group
Lower BMI (P<0.05)
Higher HDL (P=0.01)
Lower LDL:HDL (P=0.04)
Decreased waist circumference
(P=0.005)

6. Conclusion
Despite the small sample size, the findings
suggest that when compared to soybean oil,
coconut oil has a beneficial effect on blood
lipids & supports a reduction in abdominal
obesity in 20-40 year old women.

7.  To read the full discussion please visit:
http://dralexrinehart.com/nutrition-
benefits/soybean-coconut-oil-belly-fat-
heart-disease-risk-in-women/
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