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XII. US PATENTS FOR MEDICAL USES OF LAURIC OILS, MEDIUM-CHAIN FATTY ACIDS AND THEIR DERIVATIVES SUCH AS MONOLAURIN examples are the new coconut butters produced in the US and Canada by Omega Nutrition and Carotec, Inc. And this is no longer as small a market as it has been in past years. Desiccated coconut products, coconut milk and even coconut oil are appear- ing on the shelves of many of these markets. After years of pack- aging coconut oil for skin use only, one of the large suppliers of oils to the natural foods and health foods stores has introduced coconut oil for food use, and it has appeared within the last few months on shelves in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, along with other oils. I believe I indirectly had something to do with this turn of events. A number of patents have been granted in the United States for coconut products, coconut milk and even coconut oil are appear- medical uses of lauric oils, lauric acid and monolaurin. Although ing on the shelves of many of these markets. After years of pack- one earlier patent was granted to Professor Kabara more than aging coconut oil for skin use only, one of the large suppliers of three decades ago, the rest of these patents have been granted oils to the natural foods and health foods stores has introduced within the past decade. coconut oil for food use, and it has appeared within the last few In 1989 a patent was issued to the New England Deaconess months on shelves in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, Hospital (Bistrian et al., 1989) for the invention titled "Kernel along with other oils. I believe I indirectly had something to do Oils and Disease Treatment". This treatment requires lauric acid with this turn of events. as the primary fatty acid source, with lauric oils constituting up to 80% of the fat in the diet "using naturally occurring kernel oils". XIV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS In 1991 and 1995, two patents were issued to the group of There is much to be gained from pursuing the functional prop- researchers whose work has been reviewed above. erties of coconut for improving the health of humanity. The first invention (Isaacs et al., 1991) was directed to antiviral On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Asian Pacific and antibacterial activity of both fatty acids and monoglycerides, Coconut Community, at this 36th meeting of APCC, I wanted to primarily against enveloped viruses. The claims are for "a bring you a message that I hope will encourage you to continue method of killing enveloped viruses in a host human...wherein the your endeavours on behalf of all parts of the coconut industry. enveloped viruses are AIDS viruses...[or]...herpes viruses...[and Coconut products for inedible and especially edible uses are of the the]...compounds selected from the group consisting of fatty acids greatest importance for the health of the entire world. having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms and monoglycerides of said Some of what I have been telling you, most of you already fatty acids...[and]...wherein the fatty acids are saturated fatty know. But in saying these things for the record, it is my intention acids". to tell those who did not know all the The second patent (Isaacs et al., details until they heard or read this 1995) was a further extension of the paper about the positive properties of earlier one. This patent also includes coconut. discussion of the inactivation of Coconut oil is a most important oil enveloped viruses, and it specifically ope because it is a lauric oil. The lauric cites monoglycerides of caproic, Coconut oil is a most fats possess unique characteristics for caprylic, capric, lauric and myristic important oil because both food industry uses and also for acids. These fatty acids make up more age . . the uses of the soaps and cosmetics than 80% of coconut oil. Also itis a lauric oil. industries. Because of the unique included in this patent is a listing of properties of coconut oil, the fats and susceptible viruses and some bacteria oils industry has spent untold millions and protozoa. to formulate replacements from those Although these latter patents may seed oils so widely grown in the world provide the owners of the patents with outside the tropics. While it has been the ability to extract royalties from com- impossible to truly duplicate coconut mercial manufacturers of monoglycerides and fatty acids, they oil for some of its applications, many food manufacturers have cannot require royalties from the human gastrointestinal tract been willing to settle for lesser quality in their products. when it is the "factory" that is doing the manufacturing of the Consumers have also been willing to settle for a lesser quality, in monoglycerides and fatty acids. part because they have been fed so much misinformation about Clearly, though, these patents serve to illustrate to us that the fats and oils. health-giving properties of monolaurin and lauric acid are well Desiccated coconut, on the other hand, has been impossible to recognised by some individuals in the research arena, and they duplicate, and the markets for desiccated coconut have continued. lend credence to our appropriate choice of lauric oils for promot- | The powdered form of desiccated coconut now being sold in ing health and as an adjunct treatment of viral diseases. Europe and Asia has yet to find a market in the United States, but I predict that it will become an indispensable product in the natur- XIII. HOW CAN WE GET SUFFICIENT COCONUT FAT al foods industry. Creamed coconut, which is desiccated coconut INTO THE FOOD SUPPLY? very finely ground, could be used as a nut butter. I would like to review for you my perception of the status APCC needs to promote the edible uses of coconut, and it needs regarding the coconut and coconut products markets in the United to promote the re-education of the consumer, the clinician and the States and Canada at the end of the 20th century and the begin- scientist. The researcher H. Thormar (Thormar et al., 1999) con- ning of the 21st century. cluded his abstract with the statement that monocaprin "is a natur- Coconut products are trying to regain their former place in sev- al compound found in certain foodstuffs such as milk and is there- eral small markets. The extraction of oil from fresh coconut has fore unlikely to cause harmful side effects in the concentrations been reported in the past decade and my impression is that this is used". It is not monocaprin that is found in milk, but capric acid. being considered as a desirable source of minimally processed oil It is likely safe at most any level found in food. However, the with desirable characteristics for the natural foods market. level in milk fat is at most 2%, whereas the level in coconut fat is There have been some niche markets for coconut products Th. developing during the past half-decade. These are represented One last reference for the record. Sircar and Kansra (1998) primarily by the natural foods and health foods producers. Some have reviewed the increasing trend of atherosclerotic disease and Coconut oil is a most important oil because it is a lauric oil. XIII. HOW CAN WE GET SUFFICIENT COCONUT FAT INTO THE FOOD SUPPLY? I would like to review for you my perception of the status regarding the coconut and coconut products markets in the United States and Canada at the end of the 20th century and the begin- ning of the 21st century. Coconut products are trying to regain their former place in sev- eral small markets. The extraction of oil from fresh coconut has been reported in the past decade and my impression is that this is being considered as a desirable source of minimally processed oil with desirable characteristics for the natural foods market. There have been some niche markets for coconut products developing during the past half-decade. These are represented primarily by the natural foods and health foods producers. Some APRIL — MAY 2002 NEXUS ¢ 35 www.nexusmagazine.com