Is Coconut Oil Good for Children?

Coconut oil is used as a topical skin ointment by many people. Coconut oil has been proven effective as an antibacterial agent. Since coconut oil is a saturated fat, its use as a dietary supplement has been curtailed by current theories regarding saturated fat. Children, however, require more saturated fat than adults, so the use of coconut oil as a dietary supplement can be considered.

Background

• Coconut oil is generally safe for children. It is derived from a tree nut, so children and adults who are allergic to nuts, especially walnuts, should be careful when using this oil and its derivatives. Coconut oil is a saturated fat, and saturated fats are considered unhealthful in general. However, breast milk is rich in saturated fats. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in order to grow properly, children under 2 years old need fat in their diets. Many infant formulas use coconut oil to provide the necessary fat content in their preparations.

Function

• Coconut oil has been studied as part of the diet of Pacific Islanders. Although they consume a great deal of coconut oil during their lifetimes, vascular disease is uncommon. The concern regarding children and coconut oil lies in the current trend toward thinking that saturated fats raise cholesterol levels and create an environment ripe for heart disease. However, a recent report by Richard D. Feinman, biochemistry professor at Downstate Medical Center and co-editor in chief of the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, points to carbohydrates as the main culprit in high incidences of heart disease. His report indicates that a reduced carbohydrate diet resulted in lower blood fat levels than a reduced fat diet even though the consumption of saturated fats among this group was three times higher. He attributes this apparent contradiction to the effects of metabolism.

Benefits

• Coconut oil has no known adverse effects unless an allergy to walnuts and coconuts is present. Because of its classification as a saturated fat, it receives all of the current bad press that saturated fats receive, yet specific studies of coconut oil by the scientific community have shown no negative effects. To the contrary, a small peer-reviewed study of 40 women showed no increase in cholesterol and triglyceride levels after coconut oil supplementation, and the coconut oil group also had a greater increase in abdominal fat loss. An article titled "Eat to Compete" published by Iowa State University suggests that humans require saturated fats to operate at maximum efficiency.

Potential

• Coconut oil is a natural source of lauric acid, which is the primary anti-viral and anti-bacterial agent in breast milk. This unique property of coconut oil allows it to be used in many different topical treatments for skin disorders. The University of Texas at Austin has outlined coconut oil's usefulness in the removal of head lice in children.

Considerations

• Naturally occurring fat as found in coconut oil is essential for optimal health. In addition to its fat content, coconut oil has proven antibacterial, antiviral and fungicidal properties. Coconut oil can be useful as a dietary supplement although more research is needed regarding the benefits of using coconut oil in place of other, more common, cooking oils.