Abstract
The effect of coconut oil (0.5 and 1.0g·kg-1 BW) on plasma ethanol levels in male rats was examined. When coconut oil was administered orally to rats 30 min before oral administration of ethanol (1.0g·kg-1 BW), the maximum plasma ethanol concentration decreased dose-dependently and the time to reach the maximum plasma ethanol concentration was delayed significantly, without changing the disappearance time of plasma ethanol. The proportion of ethanol remaining in the stomach was significantly higher with oral administration of coconut oil (1.0g·kg-1 BW). A high negative correlation (r=·0.91, p<0.001) between the maximum plasma ethanol concentration and the proportion of ethanol remaining in the stomach was observed. On the other hand, when coconut oil (1.0g·kg-1 BW) was administered orally to rats 30 min before intraperitoneal injection of ethanol (1.0g·kg-1 BW), no effect of coconut oil on the plasma ethanol level was found. These results suggest that slowing of gastric emptying is the major mechanism responsible for the decreasing and delaying actions on plasma ethanol levels by coconut oil.
