Learn how coconut oil could treat inflammation associated with arthritis. Check out the article we found over at Health Impact News.
In what may the first study of its kind, researchers in India extracted the antioxidants unique to virgin coconut oil from the oil and injected them into rats with induced arthritis. They found that the unique coconut oil antioxidants reduced inflammation associated with arthritis more effectively than current pharmaceutical drugs.
The authors of the study write that their motivation to examine the antioxidants present in virgin coconut oil in relation to inflammation caused by arthritis is due to the ineffectiveness and serious side effects of current pharmaceutical drugs prescribed for arthritis:
At present the drug used to treat RA range from non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to more potent disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The lack of reliable treatment for early RA is a major problem in modern medicine. Most of these treatments cause severe side effects such as stomach problems, heartburn, ulcers and bleeding in the case of NSAIDs and cataracts, high blood pressure, sleep problems, muscle loss, bruising, thinning of the bones (osteoporosis), weight gain and susceptibility to infections in the case of DMARDs. There is therefore a need to develop effective antiinflammatory drugs with fewer side effects. The main objective of the present study is to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of polyphenolic fraction isolated from virgin coconut oil (VCO) on experimental arthritis.
The study found that antioxidants extracted from virgin coconut oil were more effective in reducing the inflammation in arthritis induced in rats, than Indometacin, a popular prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) often prescribed for arthritis.
While this study was obviously motivated to create new patent-able drugs or supplements from virgin coconut oil antioxidants, it should encourage those who consume virgin coconut oil, knowing the effectiveness of the unique antioxidants present in some virgin coconut oils has wonderful health benefits. This is yet another benefit of virgin coconut oil that can be added to the already impressive long list of benefits associated with coconut oil, much of it related to the medium chain fatty acids, such as lauric acid.
Image Source : Flickr
Next article: Treat Arthritis & Joint Pain Naturally With Apple Cider Vinegar
Read full article: Study: Antioxidants Present in Virgin Coconut Oil Inhibit Inflammation Associated with Arthritis
Recent Comments