The coconut is unique amongst plants in that it contains a high amount of saturated fat. Most other plant fats in contrast are polyunsaturated or monounsaturated in their structure. Coconut is also a fairly unique food because the saturated fats in the pulp of the coconut are of medium chain length typically being 8 to 12 carbons in length. This is in contrast to the longer chain saturated fats found in animal products that are typically 18 carbons in length. Medium chain fatty acids and the medium chain triglycerides they form are interesting because they are absorbed in a different way to the longer chain animals fats. Long chain fatty acids are absorbed into enterocytes following de-esterification from their glycerol backbone, and they assembled into lipoprotein particles called chylomicrons before passing into the lymphatic system to enter the circulation via the subclavian vein. In contrast, medium chain fatty acids pass into the hepatic portal vein and are processed in the liver where they are oxidised to produce energy.
This makes coconut a useful energy source because the medium chain fatty acids are oxidised more like carbohydrates than fats. Athletes can therefore use the medium chain triglycerides from coconut as alternative energy sources to carbohydrates. In addition, the use of medium chain triglycerides derived from coconut can be useful in weight loss because they are much less likely to be stored as adipose tissue. Butter also contains a reasonable portion of its total fat content as short or medium chain triglycerides, and these are metabolised in the same way as the medium chain triglycerides in coconut. Although butter does contain most of its fat as longer chain fatty acids that are absorbed into the lymphatic system, there are enough short and medium chain fatty acids in butter to allow it to provide a rapid supply of energy. Of course, butter is often avoided because of the perceived effect it has on blood cholesterol levels. However, there is no evidence to suggest that butter has any detrimental health effects, and its high content of medium and short chain fatty acids makes it a useful fat to include in the diet.
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