Ameliorating Effects of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) on Nicotine Dependence and Quality of Life in Smokers

Kusnandar Anggadiredja; Lia Amalia; Fahmy Ahsanul Haq

doi:10.2174/1871527322666221128141647

Ameliorating Effects of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) on Nicotine Dependence and Quality of Life in Smokers

CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2022 Nov 28. doi: 10.2174/1871527322666221128141647. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Kusnandar Anggadiredja¹, Lia Amalia¹, Fahmy Ahsanul Haq¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia.

PMID: 36443980
DOI: 10.2174/1871527322666221128141647

Abstract

Background: Safer and effective alternatives to manage nicotine dependence are still required. Preliminary studies have shown the potential of virgin coconut oil (VCO) to be used in dependence treatment.

Objective: to assess the VCO effect administered for 14 days on nicotine dependence and quality of life.

Methods: Forty smoking subjects participated in an open-label, single-center, pre/post-intervention study, and were required to take 15 ml VCO twice daily for 14 days. They were evaluated with the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) for nicotine dependence intensity and EuroQol-visual analogue scales (EQ VAS) for quality of life.

Results: The VCO regimen improved FTND (0.53 points decrease, p<0.05) and EQ-VAS (5.85 points increase p<0.01) scores. Adverse events were all mild.

Conclusion: Results of the present study suggest that VCO has the potential to be a safe and effective adjunct therapy for the management of nicotine dependence.

Keywords: Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence; Nicotine dependence; Quality of life; Smokers.; Virgin coconut oil.