Dodecanoic-Acid in Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, May Reduce the Incidence of Heart Disease and Cancer in Humans

Lauric-acid is a 12-carbon, medium-length, long-chain fatty acid that makes up around 50 percent of the fatty acids within coconut oil. It is a powerful compound that is sometimes extracted from the coconut for use in developing monolaurin. Monolaurin is an anti-microbial agent that is able to fight bacteria, viruses, yeasts, and other pathogens. Since one cannot ingest lauric-acid alone because it is irritating and not found alone in nature, one is most likely to consume it in the form of extra virgin coconut oil or from fresh coconuts. This prospective research is about the effects of lauric-acid in prevention of cancer and heart disease by reviewing applied studies on animals and humans. The viral, fungal and microbial effects in the cause of some types of cancer and heart disease is well established, therefore, the anti-pathogenic and anti-parasitic effects of lauric-acid is the other way of importance of this compound.