Contribution of coconut fat to the daily calorie and fat intake of adult women from rural regions in Sri Lanka

Background: Coconut is a major ingredient in habitual South-Asian diets including Sri Lanka and is a major source of fat. Reliable and recent information on dietary energy and macronutrient intakes and coconut consumption levels are lacking.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the dietary energy and macronutrient intake and the contribution of coconut to the energy and fat intake of women in rural settings in Sri Lanka.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 408 women (age: 33 ± 6 years) living in rural settings. Nutrient intakes were determined using 24-hour recalls. Socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics, perceptions, and practices of coconut consumption were collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Habits of coconut consumption were assessed by a food frequency questionnaire.

Results: The daily energy intake of women was 1765 ± 390 kcal/d and the fat intake was 46 ± 18 g/d, which accounted for 23 ± 7% of the total energy intake. The polyunsaturated: saturated fat (P:S) ratio was 0.08. Coconuts contributed to 14 ± 6% of the total energy, 54 ± 21% of the total fat, and 68 ± 26% of the total saturated fat intake. Coconut milk was the major source of coconut fat (33 ± 20%) in their habitual diet followed by coconut scrapes (15 ± 14%) and coconut oil (6 ± 8%).

Conclusions: Coconut contributes to more than half of the total fat and two-thirds of the saturated fat in the high saturated-low polyunsaturated fat diet of women in the rural setting in Sri Lanka. Coconut milk is the major individual contributor of fats.