Re: Start Talking about Coconut Oil and Alzhiemer's

July 20, 2011

Dr. Newport MD came across research on an experimental drug Ketasyn.

Checking the patent application the main ingredients was MTCs (medium-chain

trigycerides)

obtained from coconuts. She went to the health food store and bought some

coconut oil. The next morning she mixed it in Steve's oatmeal and fed it to

him. She then

drove him to an appointment where he was scheduled to retake the MMSR exam.

Steve scored 28% better than his previous test. With in a few days Steve

told he felt the " light switch come back on " and the " fog lifted " .

Could this be due to the coconut oil, " YES " And here's why.

Coconut oil and other MCTs increase your body's production of compounds

called KETONS. Ketones are a powerful fuel for the brain. Especially when

the brain is injured or impaired. Normal brain cells get their fuel from

glucose. But impaired brain cells cannot metabolize glucose well. They need

another source of fuel. And that source is ketones.

When you add coconut oil MTCs to a low-carb diet, the body is absolutely

flooded with ketons. This results in an amazing improvments in brain

function. I received this

information from Dr. Shallenberg, MD from Georgia.I plan to check it

out with Bruce Fife,N.D. Bernard_cn

July 21, 2011

I found during a romp through the fatty acids research that a main building

block for ketone production is butyric acid. Most of the ketones mentioned in

the Alzheimer's research have a hydroxybutyrate base.

A lot of oils produce some butyric acid as they are are being broken down by the

body; however a more direct approach ensures this ketone precursor is present in

sufficient quantities and also immediately biologically available.

Most of the butyric acid in the body is created by a favourable bowel ecology,

which is more rare in the elderly, so it's often thought of as a disease of the

elderly. Butyrate is used for hundreds of reactions in the body besides making

ketones, in addition to, along with acetate and propionate, being a main food

for bowel lining cells.

If one can see Alzheimer's as a disorder of low butyric acid, then they can see

it is also exacerbated by a poor bowel ecology that delivers less butyric acid

to the body than it should.

Coconut oil helps because some butyric acid can be produced; however, coconut

oil contains no butyrate on its own, so attention to bowel ecology and butter in

the diet improves things tremendously. Direct butyric acid reinforcement is a

property of butter and also of a good bowel ecology. There are other nutrients

in butter that are also not in coconut oil, and it seems the most thorough

investigation supports the use of butter with coconut oil.

all good,

Duncan

July 23, 2011

Duncan,

Coconut oil is absorbed through the stomach and small intestine and goes

directly to the liver where it is metabolized and ketones are produced. Please

read below:

" The Miracle Lipid That Burns Fat

Monday, July 18th, 2011

By Ben Fuchs

GCN Live.com

One of my favorite nutritional supplements are medium chain triglycerides.

Generally referred to as MCT oil, this largely unrecognized supplement imparts

numerous benefits. MCT oil was first introduced almost 60 years ago as a tool

for treating lipid disorders. MCTs are metabolized without bile and go directly

to the liver where they are processed into a source of fuel. Thus they provide a

good source of easily metabolized energy for patients with liver disease, gall

bladder issues, those with bile deficiencies and other health compromised

patients. "

Butyric Acid is a short chain FA and is processed in the lower intestine. Please

read below:

" Moreover, the lower gastrointestinal tract is depleted of carbohydrates, since

these are converted to sugar in the small intestine by amylase and then

absorbed. The fiber (which includes resistant starch) that reaches the lower GI

tract is broken down into short-chain fatty acids, such as butyric acid, which,

when oxidized, become ketones, such as d-beta-hydroxybutyrate, that can then be

used as energy. Ketones may therefore play a role in the lower-GI-tract

anticancer protective properties of butyric acid.

1. Sato, Kashiwaya, Keon, et al. Insulin, ketone bodies, and mitochondrial

energy transduction. FASEB J 9:651-8 (1995).

2. Kashiwaya, Takeshima, Mori, et al. d-Beta-hydroxybutyrate protects neurons in

models of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci 97(10):S440-4

(2000). "

I believe we are considering two separate body processes with one being

accomplished in the lower intestine and the other ( Coconut Oil) in the liver.

The below link will explain more how Coconut Oil would be beneficial.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/13/can-this-natural-f\

ood-cure-or-prevent-alzheimers.aspx

Regards,

Craig

>

> I found during a romp through the fatty acids research that a main building

block for ketone production is butyric acid. Most of the ketones mentioned in

the Alzheimer's research have a hydroxybutyrate base.

>

> A lot of oils produce some butyric acid as they are are being broken down by

the body; however a more direct approach ensures this ketone precursor is

present in sufficient quantities and also immediately biologically available.

>

> Most of the butyric acid in the body is created by a favourable bowel ecology,

which is more rare in the elderly, so it's often thought of as a disease of the

elderly. Butyrate is used for hundreds of reactions in the body besides making

ketones, in addition to, along with acetate and propionate, being a main food

for bowel lining cells.

>

> If one can see Alzheimer's as a disorder of low butyric acid, then they can

see it is also exacerbated by a poor bowel ecology that delivers less butyric

acid to the body than it should.

>

> Coconut oil helps because some butyric acid can be produced; however, coconut

oil contains no butyrate on its own, so attention to bowel ecology and butter in

the diet improves things tremendously. Direct butyric acid reinforcement is a

property of butter and also of a good bowel ecology. There are other nutrients

in butter that are also not in coconut oil, and it seems the most thorough

investigation supports the use of butter with coconut oil.

>

> all good,

>

> Duncan

>

July 24, 2011

Hi Craig,

We are discussing several ways to elevate butyric acid to help form ketones:

dietary butter, oils, prebiotics, and direct butyric acid supplementation.

Yes, we know probiotic bowel bacteria produce a lot of butyrate, the ketone

precursor, and it gets into the bloodstream:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12740062

Several organs can make ketone bodies from it:

kidney: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8650609

brain: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14769487

brain: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9751193

intestine: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9143333

Carnitine deficiency will impair the process:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3014317

All of the oils can be used as dietary precursors of ketones; this is not

limited to coconut oil. Unlike high-dosing the oils though, prebiotic fiber does

not result in fat deposition and weight gain.

The starch and sugar is is not completely depleted in the upper intestine in the

way the passage implied; a lot of it is locked up with the fiber and travels

into lower intestine and colon. As the cell walls are broken down this sugar and

starch is released; it is also a prebiotic, along with the prebiotic fiber.

Do you think Ben Fuchs meant to say " coconut oil " when he referred to " MCT oil "

used in the research? I do not; the research is usually quite specific as to

whether it used coconut or MCT oil as they are different.

all good,

Duncan

>

> Duncan,

>

> Coconut oil is absorbed through the stomach and small intestine and goes

directly to the liver where it is metabolized and ketones are produced. Please

read below:

>

> " The Miracle Lipid That Burns Fat

>

> Monday, July 18th, 2011

> By Ben Fuchs

> GCN Live.com

>

> One of my favorite nutritional supplements are medium chain triglycerides.

Generally referred to as MCT oil, this largely unrecognized supplement imparts

numerous benefits. MCT oil was first introduced almost 60 years ago as a tool

for treating lipid disorders. MCTs are metabolized without bile and go directly

to the liver where they are processed into a source of fuel. Thus they provide a

good source of easily metabolized energy for patients with liver disease, gall

bladder issues, those with bile deficiencies and other health compromised

patients. "

>

> Butyric Acid is a short chain FA and is processed in the lower intestine.

Please read below:

>

> " Moreover, the lower gastrointestinal tract is depleted of carbohydrates,

since these are converted to sugar in the small intestine by amylase and then

absorbed. The fiber (which includes resistant starch) that reaches the lower GI

tract is broken down into short-chain fatty acids, such as butyric acid, which,

when oxidized, become ketones, such as d-beta-hydroxybutyrate, that can then be

used as energy. Ketones may therefore play a role in the lower-GI-tract

anticancer protective properties of butyric acid.

> 1. Sato, Kashiwaya, Keon, et al. Insulin, ketone bodies, and mitochondrial

energy transduction. FASEB J 9:651-8 (1995).

> 2. Kashiwaya, Takeshima, Mori, et al. d-Beta-hydroxybutyrate protects neurons

in models of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci

97(10):S440-4 (2000). "

>

> I believe we are considering two separate body processes with one being

accomplished in the lower intestine and the other ( Coconut Oil) in the liver.

>

> The below link will explain more how Coconut Oil would be beneficial.

>

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/13/can-this-natural-f\

ood-cure-or-prevent-alzheimers.aspx

>

> Regards,

>

> Craig

>

July 29, 2011

Duncan,

I was replying to your post that coconut oil would work better to alleviate

the symptoms of Alzheimer's with the addition of Butyric Acid by adding

butter to ones diet. As you know,there are several different ketones made by

our body for different purposes and you listed some in your last reply,

however, I believe that just obfuscates the issue about the discovery of

using coconut oil (MCT) to improve the condition of Alzheimer's.

Again, all should read or be aware of the below article on how effective

Coconut Oil has been found to be.

" Four Tablespoons of This " Brain Food " May Prevent Alzheimer's "

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/13/can-this-natur

al-food-cure-or-prevent-alzheimers.aspx

or - put " Coconut oil and Alzheimer's " in the search box and you'll find

many write ups on its use. I haven't found a one yet that suggests eating a

stick of real butter to help prevent Alzheimer's. Excuse my exaggeration but

butter does only have 3 to 4% Butyric Acid. The point that I was making was

that our body normally makes Butyric Acid, a Short Chain FA, which is used

by the cells in the intestine lining and the left overs are transported to

the liver to produce Ketones. The addition of coconut oil or Medium Chain

Trig.(MCT) to one's diet is a different process than the one with Butyric

Acid. You were lumping them together. Maybe someone degreed in Organic

Chemistry could jump in here.

> Do you think Ben Fuchs meant to say " coconut oil " when he referred to

" MCT oil " used in the research? I do not; the research is usually quite

specific as to whether it used coconut or MCT oil as they are different

Let me answer you this way - at the top of Ben Fuchs' article was a picture

of a beaker half full of a liquid and next to it was a coconut cut in half.

I don't know where you're getting your info, but most that I read consider

MCT a fractionated coconut oil. Coconut oil does contain 66% MCT.

Regards,

Craig

July 29, 2011

Craig, the fact is that many oils yield ketones as a feature of metabolism, so

in that respect we can lump the various oil sources of ketone formation

together. Making an issue about someone's discovery that dietary MCT or coconut

oil also yields ketones should not obfuscate this fact, to use your own logic.

Check out this passage from the Ketogenic Diet resource:

http://www.ketogenic-diet-resource.com/ketones.html

" When the body breaks down stored fat, it creates fatty acids, which are then

burned in the liver in a process called beta-oxidation. This process results in

the creation of ketone bodies, which are then used as fuel by the muscles and

brain cells.

"

The Atkins diet comes up up first on the " other " ketogenic diets list in the

above site; Atkins didn't dwell on coconut oil.

The role played by the gut formation of butyrate in treating alzheimers is also

a large one that should not be obfuscated. Gut-produced butyratye is a large

player in intestinal and whole-body health, as it feeds the bowel lining as you

say, is transported to the blood, and is utilised as shown in the research.

I got the info that when the research specified " MCT oil " they researchers

actually used MCT oil, by reading the passages. Only the confused fail to

distinguish between the two where it's important. I agree with you that coconut

oil does contain 66% MCT, and to measure the effects of MCT oil, the research

purified out the 34% that would have made the research uncertain or invalid.

all good,

Duncan

>

> Duncan,

>

> I was replying to your post that coconut oil would work better to alleviate

> the symptoms of Alzheimer's with the addition of Butyric Acid by adding

> butter to ones diet. As you know,there are several different ketones made by

> our body for different purposes and you listed some in your last reply,

> however, I believe that just obfuscates the issue about the discovery of

> using coconut oil (MCT) to improve the condition of Alzheimer's.

>

> Again, all should read or be aware of the below article on how effective

> Coconut Oil has been found to be.

>

> " Four Tablespoons of This " Brain Food " May Prevent Alzheimer's "

>

> http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/13/can-this-natur

> al-food-cure-or-prevent-alzheimers.aspx

>

> or - put " Coconut oil and Alzheimer's " in the search box and you'll find

> many write ups on its use. I haven't found a one yet that suggests eating a

> stick of real butter to help prevent Alzheimer's. Excuse my exaggeration but

> butter does only have 3 to 4% Butyric Acid. The point that I was making was

> that our body normally makes Butyric Acid, a Short Chain FA, which is used

> by the cells in the intestine lining and the left overs are transported to

> the liver to produce Ketones. The addition of coconut oil or Medium Chain

> Trig.(MCT) to one's diet is a different process than the one with Butyric

> Acid. You were lumping them together. Maybe someone degreed in Organic

> Chemistry could jump in here.

>

> > Do you think Ben Fuchs meant to say " coconut oil " when he referred to

> " MCT oil " used in the research? I do not; the research is usually quite

> specific as to whether it used coconut or MCT oil as they are different

>

> Let me answer you this way - at the top of Ben Fuchs' article was a picture

> of a beaker half full of a liquid and next to it was a coconut cut in half.

>

> I don't know where you're getting your info, but most that I read consider

> MCT a fractionated coconut oil. Coconut oil does contain 66% MCT.

>

> Regards,

>

> Craig

>

July 29, 2011

Duncan,

Can you point to ANY studies where butter (or the Atkins diet for that matter)

was able to help with Alzheimer's? I couldn't find any. On the other hand Dr.

Newport used coconut oil to greatly improve her husband's condition and now uses

a combination of both MCT oil and Coconut Oil:

http://www.coconutketones.com/

She continues to use the coconut oil " due to the longer duration of ketone

levels and also due to its antimicrobial properties. "

Dee

> >

> > Duncan,

> >

> > I was replying to your post that coconut oil would work better to alleviate

> > the symptoms of Alzheimer's with the addition of Butyric Acid by adding

> > butter to ones diet. As you know,there are several different ketones made by

> > our body for different purposes and you listed some in your last reply,

> > however, I believe that just obfuscates the issue about the discovery of

> > using coconut oil (MCT) to improve the condition of Alzheimer's.

> >

> > Again, all should read or be aware of the below article on how effective

> > Coconut Oil has been found to be.

> >

> > " Four Tablespoons of This " Brain Food " May Prevent Alzheimer's "

> >

> > http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/13/can-this-natur

> > al-food-cure-or-prevent-alzheimers.aspx

> >

> > or - put " Coconut oil and Alzheimer's " in the search box and you'll find

> > many write ups on its use. I haven't found a one yet that suggests eating a

> > stick of real butter to help prevent Alzheimer's. Excuse my exaggeration but

> > butter does only have 3 to 4% Butyric Acid. The point that I was making was

> > that our body normally makes Butyric Acid, a Short Chain FA, which is used

> > by the cells in the intestine lining and the left overs are transported to

> > the liver to produce Ketones. The addition of coconut oil or Medium Chain

> > Trig.(MCT) to one's diet is a different process than the one with Butyric

> > Acid. You were lumping them together. Maybe someone degreed in Organic

> > Chemistry could jump in here.

> >

> > > Do you think Ben Fuchs meant to say " coconut oil " when he referred to

> > " MCT oil " used in the research? I do not; the research is usually quite

> > specific as to whether it used coconut or MCT oil as they are different

> >

> > Let me answer you this way - at the top of Ben Fuchs' article was a picture

> > of a beaker half full of a liquid and next to it was a coconut cut in half.

> >

> > I don't know where you're getting your info, but most that I read consider

> > MCT a fractionated coconut oil. Coconut oil does contain 66% MCT.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

> > Craig

> >

July 30, 2011

ly I didn't think of looking for testimonials that other fats also cured

Alzhimer's after I saw research like that. They all share the ketone body

formation so I'd expect they at least are a step toward prevention.

I won't have much time for a bit more than two weeks; maybe you can find

something.

all good,

Duncan

> >

> > Craig, the fact is that many oils yield ketones as a feature of metabolism,

so in that respect we can lump the various oil sources of ketone formation

together. Making an issue about someone's discovery that dietary MCT or coconut

oil also yields ketones should not obfuscate this fact, to use your own logic.

> >

> > Check out this passage from the Ketogenic Diet resource:

> > http://www.ketogenic-diet-resource.com/ketones.html

> > " When the body breaks down stored fat, it creates fatty acids, which are

then burned in the liver in a process called beta-oxidation. This process

results in the creation of ketone bodies, which are then used as fuel by the

muscles and brain cells.

> > "

> >

August 1, 2011

>

> Craig, the fact is that many oils yield ketones as a feature of metabolism, so

in that respect we can lump the various oil sources of ketone formation

together. Making an issue about someone's discovery that dietary MCT or coconut

oil also yields ketones should not obfuscate this fact, to use your own logic.

Duncan,

I did not make an issue about the discovery of dietary useage of MCT and Coconut

Oil. Mercola " et al " did that and IMHO it's worthy to take note of the results.

Again, I was stating that it seemed you were confusing the Butyric Acid bodily

process with the Coconut Oil/MCT process and now it seems you are obfuscating

their discovery by trying to make the bodies metabolism of other oils equal to

that of using CO/MCT. I don't know of any other research that shows the

improvement of Alzheimer's symptoms as Dr. Newport's did with her husband.

Do you?

> I got the info that when the research specified " MCT oil " they researchers

actually used MCT oil, by reading the passages. Only the confused fail to

distinguish between the two where it's important. I agree with you that coconut

oil does contain 66% MCT, and to measure the effects of MCT oil, the research

purified out the 34% that would have made the research uncertain or invalid.

Then I guess you're the one confused. You asked if I thought that Ben Fuchs

meant CO when he said MCT in his article. I believe I already answered that and

in addition, Dr. Newport used both when treating her husband and yes, it is the

MCT in the CO and in the fractionated oil that is being processed by the liver

to make Ketones that the brain cells use instead of glucose because they are

insulin resistant.

Regards,

Craig

August 1, 2011

Like I said Craig, many oils yield ketones as a feature of metabolism, so in

that respect we can lump the various oil sources of ketone formation together.

all good,

Duncan

August 26, 2011

This WIKI explains the ketogenic diet (for Alzheimers etc), which uses a variety

of oils to form ketone bodies:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketogenic_diet

Quote: " This classic ketogenic diet contains a 4:1 ratio by weight of fat to

combined protein and carbohydrate. ...A variant of the classic diet known as the

MCT ketogenic diet uses a form of coconut oil, which is rich in MCTs, to provide

around half the calories. As less overall fat is needed in this variant of the

diet, a greater proportion of carbohydrate and protein can be consumed, allowing

a greater variety of food choices. "

If the knowledgeable people in the Alzheimer's Association Online Community are

correct, the butyric acid idea is a better one than the lauric acid idea:

Quote: " The shorter the carbon chain, the more ketogenic the fat (i.e., the

greater the percentage that is turned into ketone bodies). Caprylic acid (C8) is

strongly ketogenic, and capric acid (C10) is similar in the way it's digested,

but not AS ketogenic. By the time you get to lauric acid (C12), only a small

amount is processed into ketone bodies -- most is processed via the lymph system

and stored as fat. (The Polynesians who eat so much coconut everyone talks about

have very high levels of lauric acids in their adipose tissue -- even though

they eat what would be considered a ketogenic diet.) By the time you get to

myristic acid (C14), all of it is processed via lymph. "

<http://alzheimers.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/762104261/m/71210768>

So, butyrate, being a very short chain fat, produces more ketones than other

fats, a healthy butyrate-producing bowel ecology will be a benefit, and

Alzheimer's may be linked to a diet that fails to support probiotic ecology and

its natural butyrate production, at least in some cases.

Noting the negative comment on lauric acid, I think MCT oil is better for a

ketogenic diet, and body builders agree. The label on my bottle of MCT oil says

* weight management * thermogenic * spares lean body tissue. By way of contrast

we have the fat Polynesians on straight VCO; not a good selling point for

coconut oil, even on a rah-rah coconut oil discussion group

all good,

Duncan

>

> Like I said Craig, many oils yield ketones as a feature of metabolism, so in

that respect we can lump the various oil sources of ketone formation together.

>

> all good,

>

> Duncan

>

September 3, 2011

Duncan,

I checkedÂ the link that you provided below to support your statement " The

Polynesians who eat so much coconuts everyone talks about have very high levels

of lauric acids in their adipose tissue " The only info I found there is a post

similar to yours, without reference to any related research, by a member

identified as JAB, whose profile does not indicate anything other than date of

his joining that list.Â Was there something I missed there?

But here is a study that shows that fat content of adipose tissue is largely

dictated by dietary fat intake

http://www.ajcn.org/content/22/5/594.short?rss=1 & ssource=mfr.Â In this study

the Polynesian who took 40% of energy requirement from coconut oil had adipose

tissue containing 11% lauric acid and 15% myristic acid.Â Â ItÂ can be

observed from this result that not all of the lauric acid intake was deposited

as fat. An important question that comes to mind (which was not covered in the

study) is how much of the lauric acid intake from coconut oil was metabolized

into energy via the MCT metabolism? Comparing the ratio of observed lauric and

myristic acids in the adipose tissue of 0.73 (11/15) and the ratio of these two

fatty acids in coconut oil of 2.78 (50/18), it can be computed that 74% of the

lauric acid intake was not deposited as fat in the adipose tissue at this high

intake level of dietary fat (2.05 gram lauric not deposited per gram myristic

deposited). This is possibly the amount quickly metabolized as ketones.

Here is another study that shows that in an average western dietary fat intake,

about 80% of fat deposited in adipose tissue are the dangerous PUFAs.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1519012/pdf/envhper00363-0102.pdf

Tony

" If the knowledgeable people in the Alzheimer's Association Online Community are

correct, the butyric acid idea is a better one than the lauric acid idea:

....The Polynesians who eat so much coconut everyone talks about have very high

levels of lauric acids in their adipose tissue.. "

<http://alzheimers.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/762104261/m/71210768>

Duncan

September 3, 2011

That lauric and myristic acids are found in body fat in people who eat a lot of

coconut addresses the question of how some people can gain weight on coconut oil

despite being on a high-fat diet.

I agree that the average western diet is not a good example.

all good,

Duncan

>

> Duncan,

>

> I checkedÂ the link that you provided below to support your statement " The

Polynesians who eat so much coconuts everyone talks about have very high levels

of lauric acids in their adipose tissue " The only info I found there is a post

similar to yours, without reference to any related research, by a member

identified as JAB, whose profile does not indicate anything other than date of

his joining that list.Â Was there something I missed there?

>

> But here is a study that shows that fat content of adipose tissue is largely

dictated by dietary fat intake

> http://www.ajcn.org/content/22/5/594.short?rss=1 & ssource=mfr.Â In this study