Short-term supplement of virgin coconut oil improves endothelial-dependent dilation but not exercise-mediated hyperemia in young adults

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is high in antioxidants, which reduce reactive oxygen species–induced conversion of vascular endothelial-derived nitric oxide (NO) to toxic peroxynitrite. As such, flow-mediated dilation (FMD, a surrogate marker of NO bioavailability) and exercise-mediated hyperemia may be enhanced following VCO treatment. Animal research supports these findings, but direct assessments of FMD after short-term VCO use in humans are...