Coconut oil (which has lauric acid) raises both good and bad cholesterol, but because it raises good cholesterol more, the overall ratio gets better.

Pro

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Community contributions welcome

Effects of dietary fatty acids and carbohydrates on the ratio of serum total to HDL cholesterol and on serum lipids and apolipoproteins: a meta-analysis of 60 controlled trials.

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

2003 May

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Effects of dietary fatty acids and carbohydrates on the ratio of serum total to HDL cholesterol and on serum lipids and apolipoproteins: a meta-analysis of 60 controlled trials.

Score: 30

DOI: 10.1093/AJCN/77.5.1146

Similar Assertions

People who eat more lauric and myristic acid—fats found in coconut oil and butter—tend to have higher cholesterol in their blood, and this link is really strong, so these fats might be a big reason why some populations have higher cholesterol than others.

72%

People who eat more lauric and myristic acid—found in coconut oil and butter—tend to have higher cholesterol in their blood, and this link is really strong.

71%