Abstract:
The potential attenuating effect of dietary coconut oil on ethanol-induced liver disease was determined in this study. Alcoholic liver disease was induced in rats for six weeks, and was treated with diets enriched in coconut oil, palm oil, and soybean oil. Severity of liver injury was based on the occurrence and degree of necrosis, steatosis, and fibrosis. Histopathological scores showed a significant difference among the five treatment groups. In groups fed with diets enriched in saturated fatty acids, i.e. coconut oil and palm oil, established alcoholic liver disease was attenuated to near normalization. Coconut oil in the diet, in place of unsaturated fatty acids, is a potential therapeutic intervention in alcohol- induced liver disease.
