The Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) conducted a study to see how digested coconut oil could be used as an antibiotic to help stave off tooth decay. The scientists studied coconut oil in its natural state as well as some that was treated with enzymes to mimic digestion. They found the enzyme-treated coconut oil inhibited the growth of a bacteria in the mouth that causes tooth decay.

Further studies need to be conducted to see how coconut oil and the bacteria in your mouth will interact at the molecular level.

Additional testing by the group at AIT found that enzyme-modified coconut oil was also harmful to the yeast Candida albicans that can cause thrush.

The best application of this enzyme-treated coconut oil is it can be infused into toothpaste adding antibacterial properties.

The work also contributes to our understanding of antibacterial activity in the human gut. “Our data suggests that products of human digestion show antimicrobial activity. This could have implications for how bacteria colonize the cells lining the digestive tract and for overall gut health,” explained Dr Brady.

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http://www.ait.ie/aboutaitandathlone/newsevents/pressreleases/2012pressreleases/title-16107-en.html