Elaeis guineensis
Palm oil/Drug Interactions:
Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: In humans, acute elevation of the coagulant activity of blood coagulation factor VII (FVIIc) was observed after consumption of palm oil-containing meals caused by an increase in the concentration of activated FVII (FVIIa) (73; 62). However, according to review articles, palm oil may be antithrombotic and also increase the prostacyclin:thromboxane ratio and reduce restenosis (29; 17). Antidiabetic agentsAntidiabetic agents: In humans, palm oil was reported to increase endogenous glucose production by impairing suppression of glycogenolysis in nondiabetic obese males (74). AntihypertensivesAntihypertensives: In animals, rabbits fed diets containing high concentrations of safflower oil and palm oil became hypertensive (57). However, there is evidence that palm oil ingestion causes a reduction in blood pressure in humans and may prevent pregnancy-induced hypertension (30; 58). AntilipemicsAntilipemics: In humans, there is evidence that palm oil raises cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels under some conditions and lowers it under others (i.e., healthy vs. hypercholesterolemic humans) (59; 60; 61; 62; 63; 17; 64; 65; 66; 67; 68; 69). Cardiovascular agentsCardiovascular agents: In humans and animals, antioxidant activity of palm oil may prevent atherosclerosis (71; 60; 72; 25; 6). However, the World Health Organization has warned that there is evidence that palmitic acid may increase the risk of heart disease. ImmunosuppressantsImmunosuppressants: In humans, palm oil increased postprandial leukocyte counts (62). LaxativesLaxatives: According to secondary sources, palm oil has been used to treat diarrhea and dysentery in infants. A maize-cowpea-palm oil diet available in Nigeria had limited effects in the treatment of diarrhea (100). Palm oil may have caused stomachache, flatulence, and loose stools in one clinical trial (70). TamoxifenTamoxifen: According to a review, it is not clear if palm oil has antineoplastic activity (18). Based on information from secondary sources, a study performed in breast cancer patients found that palm oil tocotrienols were just as effective as tamoxifen alone and increased the potency of tamoxifen by 45% when used in combination. Palm oil/Herb/Supplement Interactions:
Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: In human research, acute elevation of the coagulant activity of blood coagulation factor VII (FVIIc) was observed after consumption of palm oil-containing meals caused by an increase in the concentration of activated FVII (FVIIa) (73; 62). However, according to review articles, palm oil may be antithrombotic and also increase the prostacyclin:thromboxane ratio and reduce restenosis (29; 17). AntilipemicsAntilipemics: In humans, there is evidence that palm oil raises cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels under some conditions and lowers it under others (i.e., healthy vs. hypercholesterolemic humans) (59; 60; 61; 62; 63; 17; 64; 65; 66; 67; 68; 69). AntioxidantsAntioxidants: Palm oil and palm oil extracts have exhibited antioxidant properties in human and in vitro studies (17; 21; 15; 101; 102). Beta-caroteneBeta-carotene: Red palm oil is one of the richest dietary sources of beta-carotene (103; 104). Cardiovascular herbs and supplementsCardiovascular herbs and supplements: In humans and animals, the antioxidant activity of palm oil may prevent atherosclerosis (71; 60; 72; 25; 6). However, the World Health Organization has warned that there is evidence that palmitic acid may increase the risk of heart disease. HypoglycemicsHypoglycemics: In humans, palm oil was reported to increase endogenous glucose production by impairing suppression of glycogenolysis in nondiabetic obese males (74). HypotensivesHypotensives: In animals, rabbits fed diets containing high concentrations of safflower oil and palm oil became hypertensive (57). However, there is evidence that palm oil ingestion causes a reduction in blood pressure in humans and may prevent pregnancy-induced hypertension (30; 58). Immunomodulating herbs and supplementsImmunomodulating herbs and supplements: In human research, palm oil increased postprandial leukocyte counts (62). LaxativesLaxatives: According to secondary sources, palm oil has been used to treat diarrhea and dysentery in infants. A maize-cowpea-palm oil diet available in Nigeria had limited effects in the treatment of diarrhea (100). Palm oil may have caused stomachache, flatulence, and loose stools in one clinical trial (70). LycopeneLycopene: Based on secondary sources, red palm oil may increase blood levels of lycopene.Vitamin A supplementsVitamin A supplements: Beta-carotene-rich foods have been shown to be as effective as vitamin A supplements for preventing vitamin A deficiency in humans (105; 106; 91). Vitamin E supplementsVitamin E supplements: Palm oil contains high levels of tocopherols and tocotrienols, which are constituents of vitamin E (16). Palm oil/Food Interactions:
Insufficient available evidence.Palm oil/Lab Interactions:
Blood pressureBlood pressure: Rabbits fed diets containing high concentrations of safflower oil and palm oil became hypertensive (57). However, there is evidence that palm oil ingestion causes a reduction in blood pressure in humans and may prevent pregnancy-induced hypertension (30; 58). Carotenoid levelsCarotenoid levels: Ingestion of palm oil increases retinol, tocopherol, and carotenoid levels in serum and breast milk in humans (36; 37; 32; 93; 91; 90; 92; 89; 69). Coagulation panelCoagulation panel: In humans, acute elevation of the coagulant activity of blood coagulation factor VII (FVIIc) was observed after consumption of palm oil-containing meals caused by an increase in the concentration of activated FVII (FVIIa) (73; 62). However, there is evidence that palm oil may be antithrombotic and also increase the prostacyclin:thromboxane ratio and reduce restenosis (29; 17). C-reactive proteinC-reactive protein: There is conflicting evidence as to whether red palm oil supplementation affects C-reactive protein levels in humans (90; 91). Free fatty acidsFree fatty acids: Enteral infusions of palm oil in 14 obese nondiabetic subjects caused plasma free fatty acid concentrations to increase significantly after four hours (74). GlucoseGlucose: In humans, palm oil was reported to increase endogenous glucose production by impairing suppression of glycogenolysis in nondiabetic obese males (74). Leukocyte countsLeukocyte counts: In human research, palm oil increased postprandial leukocyte counts (62). Lipid levelsLipid levels: There is evidence that palm oil raises cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels under some conditions and lowers it under others (i.e., healthy vs. hypercholesterolemic humans) (59; 60; 61; 62; 63; 17; 64; 65; 66; 67; 68; 69). The addition of palm oil to a balanced diet in health humans has been thought to reduce cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides, and to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (107; 108). An improvement in lipoprotein(a) and apo-A1 levels has also been reported (29; 82). Vitamin AVitamin A: Palm oil increased plasma vitamin A (11).