07 December 2020 Page 1 of 1
Congratulatory Statement on First DOST Clinical Trial on the
Potential of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) Against COVID-19
We, the members of the VCOP, an association of coconut processors, marketers and various stakeholders, congratulate the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) for their valuable work for the Filipino people by conducting the first-ever clinical trial to study the efficacy of Virgin Coconut Oil as an adjuvant against COVID-19.
The output of their work strongly indicates that a diet enriched with Virgin Coconut Oil can reduce or eliminate the symptoms of COVID-19 in patients with mild symptoms. This conclusion is based on the clear difference in the levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in the VCO group versus the control group, indicating a drop in inflammation due to ingestion of VCO.
The study does not consider VCO as a medicine nor a therapeutic drug but strongly suggests that it is a unique food that can play a strong supportive role in health, particularly in helping alleviate inflammation due to COVID-19 and possibly boost the immune system.
Virgin Coconut Oil as part of one’s diet is a safe food because it is derived from the coconut kernel and coconut cream where it comprises 30-35% of its content. Therefore when one eats coconut cream or coconut milk, then one has also consumed coconut oil as well.
Coconut oil is part of the traditional diet not only of Filipinos, but in many tropical cultures in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, South America, and the Caribbean.
This study validates VCO’s beneficial role in health and establishes Philippine leadership in research and development of VCO as functional food.
We encourage DOST, PCA and other agencies, both public and private, to follow up this first step with more extensive trials to provide more rigorous scientific evidence.
This is a cost-effective and strategic investment in a resource that will surely benefit all Filipinos. Imagine the potential benefits to the millions of people who consume the coconut in their diet and for those who rely on coconut farming for their income!
Thank you DOST, FNRI, and PCA for doing your duty well in service to the Filipino people! The coconut is truly a critical resource at this time in our history.