Health & Wellness: Monolaurin Benefits

Researchers have explored possible uses of monolaurin in medicine, disinfection, and food preservation for the past two decades.

You can take monolaurin daily as a dietary supplement. You can find monolaurin at your local health food or vitamin store. Coconut oil and some coconut products contain about 50 percent lauric acid. It is many times more efficient than lauric acid at destroying bacteria and viruses. Nonetheless, researchers are not sure how it is formed in the human body.

Health Benefits

People take monolaurin supplements to boost immunity and general well-being. Nevertheless, there is little scientific evidence to support these claims. Studies examined the antimicrobial effects of monolaurin, coconut oil, and lauric acid. But they conducted most of these studies in test tubes and Petri dishes.

Its antimicrobial properties are well known, but more research is needed to test the effects of monolaurin on living subjects.

Antibacterial effect

Studies show that monolaurin is an effective killer of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food confirmed the results of other studies showing the antibacterial power of monolaurin.

Research from 2007 compared monolaurin to six common types of antibiotics in treating surface skin infections in children. The study found statistically significant effects of broad spectrum antibiotics without resistance to conventional antibiotics.

Antifungal effects

Some people reported that monolaurin can kill several fungi, yeast, and protozoa, including some types of tinea. It is a common fungal pathogen found in the urinary tract, skin, gut, mouth, and genitals. It can be life-threatening in immune-compromised people.

A current study found that monolaurin can be used as an antifungal agent that may also reduce the pro-inflammatory response.

Side effects and risks

Although the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved monolaurin for the treatment of any disease or disease, it is generally recognized as safe. This means that your can consider monolaurin as safe to consume, even in large amounts. In the case of nutritionally labeled standardized foods, however, there may be quantity restrictions.

The only risks associated with monolaurin come from the source from which it is derived, coconut oil. Food allergies are common. However, serious allergic reactions to coconut are rare, even in people who are allergic to tree nuts.

There are no certain monolaurin side effects, risks, interactions, or complications as a dietary supplement.