Effects of Young Coconut Water Intake on Serum Total Cholesterol among Adults with Central Obesity: A Pre–Post Intervention Study

Central obesity is a core component of metabolic syndrome and a major contributor to dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk, particularly in Asian populations. Young coconut water is a natural beverage rich in potassium, L-arginine, and antioxidant compounds that may favourably influence lipid metabolism. This study aimed to examine the effect of young coconut water consumption on serum total cholesterol levels among adults with central obesity. A one-group pre–post intervention study was conducted involving 33 adults with central obesity, defined by Asian-specific waist circumference criteria (>90 cm in men and >80 cm in women). Participants consumed 200 mL of fresh young coconut water daily for 20 consecutive days. Serum total cholesterol levels were measured at baseline and after the intervention. Pre–post differences were analyzed using a paired t-test. Mean serum total cholesterol decreased significantly from 209.33 ± 36.09 mg/dL at baseline to 183.39 ± 30.03 mg/dL post-intervention (mean difference: 25.94 mg/dL; 95% CI: 20.12–31.76; p < 0.001). The proportion of participants with abnormal cholesterol levels (≥200 mg/dL) declined from 54.5% to 33.3% following the intervention, indicating a clinically meaningful improvement. Conclusion: Short-term consumption of young coconut water was associated with a significant reduction in serum total cholesterol among individuals with central obesity. These findings suggest that young coconut water may serve as a feasible, locally available adjunct nutritional strategy for dyslipidemia management. Further randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm causality and long-term effects