Monolaurin and Weight Loss
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Monolaurin
and Weight Loss
Obesity
In 2017-2018, obesity was present in 42.4% of adults in the United States [Ref #1]. This chronic disease is characterized by a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. BMI is determined using height and weight. [Ref #2]
Typically, obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories than they burn through exercise however, there are numerous other potential causes including hormonal and hereditary influences. Genetics, especially, can have an effect on your metabolism and how your body regulates appetite and energy consumption. [Ref #2]
Obesity is dangerous - it can lead to a number of other serious health conditions. These include heart disease, diabetes, cancer, among others. While the best method of prevention and treatment is healthy eating coupled with regular exercise, researchers are looking into the potential benefits of a number of supplements. [Ref #2]
Intro to Monolaurin and Lauric Acid
One such supplement is monolaurin. Monolaurin is a medium-chain fatty acid that is formed from lauric acid. It occurs naturally in coconut oil and mother’s breast milk but can also be taken as a dietary supplement. Studies suggest monolaurin may exhibit numerous health benefits for a variety of immune supporting applications. [Ref #3] Learn more about monolaurin.
Monolaurin
Research
The Research
Monolaurin and Obesity & Weight Loss
The existing body of research on the relationship of monolaurin and obesity is promising. There are numerous studies demonstrating a fascinating connection. A team of scientists in 2019 fed mice a high-fat diet and then gave some of the mice glycerol monolaurate (another name for monolaurin) as a supplement. After 10 weeks, they found that not only did the monolaurin prevent visceral fat buildup but it also aided the balancing of gut bacteria, increasing the beneficial ones while reducing harmful bacteria such as E. coli. This rebalancing may be a tool for reducing visceral fat deposition.
“C57BL/6 mice are fed a HFD [high fat diet] with or without GML [glycerol monolaurate] supplementation (150, 300, and 450 mg kg-1 ) for 10 weeks. The results demonstrated that higher GML treatment (450 mg kg-1 ) ameliorates HFD-induced metabolic disorders, supported by prevented visceral fat deposition, improved hyperlipidemia, modulated hepatic lipid metabolism, and reduced serum proinflammatory cytokine, TNF-α. Additionally, all doses of GML attenuated circulating lipopolysaccharide load and insulin resistance. Notably, GML ameliorates HFD-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, with increases in Bacteroides uniformis, Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus and decreases in Escherichia coli, Lactococcus, and Flexispira. Spearman's correlation analysis indicates that these enriched specific genera are significantly associated with the metabolic improvements of GML….The findings identify the links between gut microbiota and GML-induced metabolic improvements, suggesting that the attenuation of HFD-induced metabolic disorders by higher GML supplementation may occur through targeting gut microbiota.” [Ref #4]
Seven months later the same team carried out a similar experiment to determine the preventative potential of monolaurin against obesity. Their second experiment proved even more clearly, that monolaurin could have the potential to prevent obesity.
“HFD-fed [high fat diet fed] mice were treated with 1,600 mg/kg GML [glycerol monolaurate]. Our data indicated that GML significantly reduced body weight and visceral fat deposition, improved hyperlipidemia and hepatic lipid metabolism, and ameliorated glucose homeostasis and inflammation in HFD-fed mice…Our results indicated that GML may be provided for obesity prevention by targeting the gut microbiota and regulating glycerophospholipid metabolism.” [Ref #5]
Yet a third rodent study saw promising results in weight loss when rats were supplemented with a lauric acid triglyceride. After 12 weeks, the rats had significant reductions in body weight and body mass index.
“This study aimed to determine the anti-obesity effects and mechanisms of lauric triglyceride (LT) in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. LA [lauric acid] and glycerin were used to synthesize LT, then LT was used to treat obese rats for 12 weeks. The results showed that LT significantly reduced the body weight, body mass index, and Lee's index in obese rats….The results indicated that LT ameliorates diet-induced obesity in rats.” [Ref #6]
Monolaurin and Diabetes
In addition to regulating gut microbiota, monolaurin helps to regulate insulin levels which can prevent both diabetes and obesity.
“Monolaurin can inhibit the increase in blood TAG (triacylglycerol) after eating. Monolaurin and other MAGs (monoacylglycerols) can regulate the increase in insulin levels, so that blood sugar is controlled, thus preventing diabetes and obesity due to hyperglycemia.” [Ref #7]
Diabetes is a complication of obesity [Ref #2] and can exist in a patient at the same time as obesity. A study analyzing different types of fatty acids found that medium-chain fatty acids (particularly lauric acid extracted from coconut oil) could reduce the intensity of obesity comorbidities.
“Mice were fed (16 weeks) a control, low fat diet or obesogenic diets prepared with differing content of MCSFA [medium-chain saturated fatty acids] or LCSFA [long-chain saturated fatty acids] in which polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; MUFA) were kept constant. Inclusion of MCSFA in an obesogenic diet prevented hepatic lipid accumulation and lowered indices of insulin resistance…Our data indicate that (1) MCSFA reduce the severity of some obesogenic co-morbidities….” [Ref #8]
Oxidation & Ketone Production
An area of interest in obesity research is the oxidation of various dietary fatty acids. There is a hypothesis that dietary fats that oxidize more quicks are less prone to storage within the body. This lack of storage would help to prevent fat deposition that could lead to obesity. Lauric acid was found to be “highly oxidized” in comparison to other fatty acids.
“Dietary fatty acids that are more prone to oxidation than to storage may be less likely to lead to obesity…. In summary, lauric acid is highly oxidized, whereas the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids are fairly well oxidized. Oxidation of the long-chain, saturated fatty acids decreases with increasing carbon number.” [Ref #9]
This rapid oxidation also leads to the production of ketones. Ketone production is a cornerstone of the keto diet, which has grown in popularity.
“As compared to the long-chain fatty acids found in other cooking oils, the medium-chain fats in MCTs [medium-chain triglycerides] are far less likely to be stored in adipose tissue, do not give rise to 'ectopic fat' metabolites that promote insulin resistance and inflammation, and may be less likely to activate macrophages. When ingested, medium-chain fatty acids are rapidly oxidised in hepatic mitochondria; the resulting glut of acetyl-coenzyme A drives ketone body production and also provokes a thermogenic response. Hence, studies in animals and humans indicate that MCT ingestion is less obesogenic than comparable intakes of longer chain oils.” [Ref #10]
Read more about monolaurin and the keto diet.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The research into effects of monolaurin and obesity is compelling and there is more being conducted. Obesity is a serious chronic condition and an imperative research area for scientists today. Hopefully, more beneficial links between monolaurin and obesity prevention will emerge in the coming years.
Monolaurin Safety
As with all dietary supplements, monolaurin should be taken under the direction and supervision of a healthcare professional. Individuals are advised consult a medical professional to assist in the selection and use of dietary supplements.
Considering monolaurin but not sure where to start? Consider some of the information in the Buying Guide.
Looking to buy monolaurin? Check out some of the products listed on this external Shop Monolaurin website.
References
“Adult Obesity Facts.” (2021). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Obesity.” (2020). Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
Ezigbo, Veronica O., Mbaegbu Emmanuella A. (2016). “Extraction of Lauric Acid from Coconut Oil, Its Applications and Health Implications on Some Microorganisms.” African Journal of Education, Science and Technology.
Zhao, M., Cai, H., Jiang, Z., Li, Y., Zhong, H., Zhang, H., & Feng, F. (2019). “Glycerol-Monolaurate-Mediated Attenuation of Metabolic Syndrome is Associated with the Modulation of Gut Microbiota in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Mice.” Molecular nutrition & food research, 63(18), e1801417.
Zhao, M., Jiang, Z., Cai, H., Li, Y., Mo, Q., Deng, L., Zhong, H., Liu, T., Zhang, H., Kang, J. X., & Feng, F. (2020). “Modulation of the Gut Microbiota during High-Dose Glycerol Monolaurate-Mediated Amelioration of Obesity in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.” mBio, 11(2), e00190-20.
Xia, J., Yu, P., Zeng, Z., Ma, M., Zhang, G., Wan, D., Gong, D., Deng, S., & Wang, J. (2021). “Lauric Triglyceride Ameliorates High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obesity in Rats by Reducing Lipogenesis and Increasing Lipolysis and β-Oxidation.” Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c07342.
Subroto, Edy & Indiarto, Rossi. (2020). “Bioactive monolaurin as an antimicrobial and its potential to improve the immune system and against COVID-19: a review.” Food Research. 2020.
Žáček, P., Bukowski, M., Mehus, A., Johnson, L., Zeng, H., Raatz, S., Idso, J. P., & Picklo, M. (2019). “Dietary saturated fatty acid type impacts obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction and plasma lipidomic signatures in mice.” The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 64, 32–44.
DeLany, J. P., Windhauser, M. M., Champagne, C. M., & Bray, G. A. (2000). “Differential oxidation of individual dietary fatty acids in humans.” The American journal of clinical nutrition, 72(4), 905–911.
McCarty, M. F., & DiNicolantonio, J. J. (2016). “Lauric acid-rich medium-chain triglycerides can substitute for other oils in cooking applications and may have limited pathogenicity.” Open heart, 3(2), e000467.