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Dirección de esta página: https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/druginfo/natural/1092.html

Aceite de Coco

¿Qué es?

El aceite de coco proviene de la nuez (fruto) de la palma de coco. Contiene ácidos grasos de cadena media, que incluyen ácido cáprico, ácido caprílico y ácido láurico.

Aproximadamente del 52% al 85% del aceite de coco se compone de grasas saturadas específicas, llamadas ácidos grasos de cadena media. Tiene un efecto hidratante cuando se aplica sobre la piel.

Las personas comúnmente usan aceite de coco para el eccema y el crecimiento en bebés prematuros. También se usa para la psoriasis, la obesidad, el cáncer de mama, las enfermedades cardíacas, la EM y muchas otras afecciones, pero no existe una buena evidencia científica que respalde estos usos.

¿Qué tan efectivo es?

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (La Base Exhaustiva de Datos de Medicamentos Naturales) clasifica la eficacia, basada en evidencia científica, de acuerdo a la siguiente escala: Eficaz, Probablemente Eficaz, Posiblemente Eficaz, Posiblemente Ineficaz, Probablemente Ineficaz, Ineficaz, e Insuficiente Evidencia para Hacer una Determinación.

La clasificación de la eficacia para este producto es la siguiente:

Posiblemente eficaz para...

  • Eccema (dermatitis atópica). La aplicación de aceite de coco en la piel puede reducir los síntomas del eccema en los niños más que la aplicación de aceite mineral.
  • Crecimiento y desarrollo en bebés prematuros. La aplicación de aceite de coco en la piel de los bebés prematuros podría mejorar la temperatura corporal, la respiración, la salud de la piel y el crecimiento general.
Existe interés en usar el aceite de coco para otros propósitos, pero no hay suficiente información confiable para decir si podría ser útil.

¿Es seguro?

Cuando se toma por vía oral: El aceite de coco se consume comúnmente en los alimentos. Pero el aceite de coco contiene un tipo de grasa (grasa saturada) que puede aumentar los niveles de colesterol. Como todas las grasas saturadas, debe consumirse con moderación. El aceite de coco es posiblemente seguro cuando se usa como medicamento a corto plazo. Tomar aceite de coco en dosis de 10 ml dos o tres veces al día durante un máximo de 12 semanas parece ser seguro.

Cuando se aplica sobre la piel: Es probable que el aceite de coco sea seguro cuando se aplica sobre la piel.

Advertencias y precauciones especiales:

Embarazo y lactancia: El aceite de coco se consume comúnmente en los alimentos. No hay suficiente información confiable para saber si el aceite de coco es seguro para usar como medicamento durante el embarazo o la lactancia. Manténgase en el lado seguro y limítese a las cantidades de alimentos.

Niños: El aceite de coco es posiblemente seguro cuando se aplica sobre la piel durante aproximadamente un mes. No hay suficiente información confiable para saber si el aceite de coco es seguro para los niños cuando se toma por vía oral como medicamento.

Colesterol alto: El aceite de coco contiene un tipo de grasa que puede aumentar los niveles de colesterol. Comer regularmente comidas que contienen aceite de coco puede aumentar los niveles de colesterol de lipoproteínas de baja densidad (LDL o "malo"). Esto podría ser un problema para las personas que ya tienen el colesterol alto.

¿Existen interacciones con medicamentos?

No se sabe si este producto interactúa con algún medicamento.

Si está tomando medicamentos, converse con su proveedor de atención médica antes de empezar a tomar este producto.

¿Existen interacciones con hierbas y suplementos?

Ácido clorogénico
El aceite de coco podría aumentar la cantidad de ácido clorogénico que el cuerpo absorbe de los suplementos.
Psilio rubio
El psyllium podría reducir la cantidad de grasa que el cuerpo absorbe del aceite de coco.

¿Existen interacciones con alimentos?

No se conoce ninguna interacción con alimentos.

¿Como se usa normalmente?

El aceite de coco ha sido utilizado con mayor frecuencia por adultos en dosis de 20 a 60 ml por vía oral al día durante un máximo de 4 meses. El aceite de coco también se usa como aceite tópico o humectante y se encuentra en algunos cosméticos. Hable con un proveedor de atención médica para averiguar qué tipo de producto y dosis podrían ser los mejores para una condición específica.

Algunos productos de aceite de coco se denominan aceite de coco "virgen", lo que generalmente significa que no se han blanqueado, desodorizado ni refinado. Pero no existen estándares específicos de la industria. El aceite de coco "prensado en frío" significa que se ha prensado sin una fuente de calor.

Otros nombres

Acide Gras de Noix de Coco, Coconut Fatty Acid, Coconut Palm, Coco Palm, Coconut, Cocos nucifera, Cocotier, Cold Pressed Coconut Oil, Fermented Coconut Oil, Huile de Coco, Huile de Noix de Coco, Huile de Noix de Coco Pressée à Froid, Huile Vierge de Noix de Coco, Narikela, Noix de Coco, Palmier, Virgin Coconut Oil.

Metodología

Para saber más sobre cómo este artículo fue escrito, refiérase a la metodología de la Base exhaustiva de datos de medicamentos naturales.

Referencias

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Documento revisado - 03/29/2023