Long Term Consumption of Coconut Oil Diet Increased Anxiety Related Behaviour in CD1 Mice

The effect of prolonged consumption of virgin coconut oil (VCO) diet on anxiety was assessed in CD1 mice using the Open field (OF), Elevated plus maze (EPM) and Light/dark box (LD box) tests. Thirty male CD1 mice (28.4 - 32.5 g bw) divided into 3 groups (n=10 each) were given normal rodent chow (control), 5% (w/w) and 20% (w/w) VCO diet respectively and water ad libitum for 23 days. The OF test showed increased grooming (p< 0.05) in both 5% and 20% VCO groups versus control, and higher Freeze frequency in both VCO diet groups versus control, with the 20% diet group being higher than that for 5% diet group (p<0.05). Stretch attend postures (SAP) were similarly higher in the 5% and 20% diet groups (P<0.05) versus control, and higher (P<0.05) in the 20% VCO diet versus 5% VCO diet group. In the EPM test, the open arms duration was lower (p< 0.05) in the 20% VCO diet group. SAPs in the EPM test were higher in both 5% and 20% VCO diet groups (p< 0.05.), with that for the 20% VCO diet group being higher than that for the 5% VCO group (p< 0.05). In the LD box test, SAP was significantly higher in 20% VCO diet group versus control (p<0.05). All behaviours scored in the three tests indicate increased anxiety in the VCO diet groups. Thus long-term consumption of virgin coconut oil diet increased anxiety-related behaviour in the mice, with the 20% diet causing a greater effect.