J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage.

March, 2015
JJASEM
OURNAL
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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Vol. 19 (1) 127 - 133 .
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Palm oil, its nutritional and health implications (Review)

*1IMOISI, OB; ILORI, GE; AGHO, I.; EKHATOR, JO

Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, P.M.B 1030, Benin-City, Edo State. Nigeria
E-mail of authors;- imoisib@gmail.com, esohe_grc@yahoo.com, imagho@yahoo.com and jeff_yahoo.com

KEYWORDS: Oxidized, Saturated Fats, Palm Oil, Coronary Heart Disease.

ABSTRACT: Diet for some time now in Nigeria has undergone many changes such as
changes in dietary intake of fats and oils. There has been an increasing consumption of
partially hydrogenated trans-vegetable oils and a decreasing intake of lauric acid-containing
oils. Although popular literature and people generally, usually attribute an increased risk of
coronary heart disease (CHD) to elevated levels of serum cholesterol, which in turn are
thought to derive from an increased dietary intake of saturated fats and cholesterol. The
palm oil and palm kernel oil are high in saturated fatty acids, about 50% and 80%
respectively and are esterified with glycerol. In developing countries, vegetable oils are
replacing animal fats because of the cost and health concerns. It is reassuring to know that
the consumption of palm oil as a source of dietary fat does not pose any additional risks for
coronary artery disease when consumed in realistic amounts as part of a healthy diet.
However, oxidized palm oil induces reproductive toxicity and organ toxicity particularly of
the kidneys, lungs, liver and heart. Therefore, oxidized palm oil should be avoided.
© JASEM

http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v19i1.15

Introduction
Palm oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils of different products (Anonymous 2003). Malaysia
derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is and Indonesia account for 83 percent of production
extracted from the pulp of the fruit of oil palm (Elaeis and 89 percent of global exports.
guineensis); palm kernel oil is derived from the Palm Oil Composition of Palm Oil: Palm oil and
kernel seed of the oil palm (Poku, 2002). Palm oil is palm kernel oil are high in saturated fatty acids; palm
naturally reddish in colour because it contains a high oil is semi solid at room temperature. Palm oil
amount of beta-carotene. Palm oil has been used in contains several saturated and unsaturated fats in the
food preparation for over 5,000 years. Palm oil is the forms of glyceryl laurate (0.1% saturated), myristate
most widely produced edible vegetable oil in the (1%, saturated), palmitate (44%, saturated), stearate
world and its nutritional and health attributes have (5% saturated), oleate (39% monounsaturated),
been well documented (Chandrasekharan et al. 2000). linoleate (10% polyunsaturated) and linolenate (0.3%
polyunsaturated) (Cottrell, 1991). Palm kernel oil is
According to the Malaysian Oil Palm Statistics in highly saturated. Palm kernel oil contains mainly
2005 (http: lauric acid. Palm oil is the largest natural source of
//www.tocotrienol.org/en/index/news/58.html), it tocotrienol. The development of convenience foods
surpassed soybean oil as the most widely produced and of snack food manufacture on an industrial scale
vegetable oil in the world. Palm oil is currently opened up additional uses for palm oil, because of its
enjoying strong appeal worldwide as a cooking aid good resistance to oxidative deterioration and its
because it is free of Artery-clogging trans-fats. better ability to withstand the high temperatures used
Besides being cleaner and more stable, it is consumed in frying than most alternative oils (Kheri, 1987;
worldwide as cooking oil, in making of margarine Berger, 1992)
and shortening, apart from being used as an
ingredient in fat blends and a vast array of food Antioxidants in palm oil: Effects of carotenoids:
products. In the United States, Palm oil’s principal Red palm oil gets its characteristics dark red colour,
edible use is as an ingredient in prepared foods which comes from carotenes such as alpha-carotene,
(primarily baked foods). Food manufacturers choose beta-carotene and lycopene. The same nutrient that
palm oil because it has a distinct quality, requires give tomatoes, carrots and other fruits and vegetable
little or no hydrogenation, and prolongs the shelf life their rich colours. Crude palm oil is considered to be

*Corresponding author -email of authors;- imoisib@gmail.com

Palm oil, its nutritional and health implications 128

the richest natural source or carotenoids also enhance have the ability to reverse blockage of the carotid
immune function by a variety of mechanisms, and artery and platelet aggregation (the clumping together
can improve cardiovascular health. Carotenoids also of cells) thereby reducing the risk of stroke,
play an important potential role by acting as arteriosclerosis, and ischaemic heart diseases. Palm
biological antioxidants, protecting cells and tissues tocotrienols have been shown to be protective after a
from the damaging effect of free radicals. When on strenuous bout of exercise by preventing protein
being exposed to pollutants in cigarette smoke, oxidation and lipid peroxidation. Tocotrienol-rich
industrial pollution, stress, unbalance diets, pesticide fraction of palm oil is capable of protecting brain
and insecticide residues in food and water, and many against oxidative damage and thereby ensuing
other negative environmental influences, one is also adverse alterations that accompany aging. Lipid
exposed to free radicals. A build-up of free radicals peroxides in blood vessels and plasma show a
in the body is associated with degenerative diseases positive correlation with blood pressure. The
such as heart disease and cancer, as well as general antioxidant ability of gamma-tocotrienol may prevent
ageing. It is, therefore, in one’s own best interest to development of increased blood pressure by reducing
ensure that to eat a diet rich in antioxidants that will lipid peroxides and enhancing the total antioxidant
prevent the damage that is done to bodies by free status, Melanoma, also on the increase, can be
radicals. Red palm oil is a form of processed palm oil inhibited with the delta fraction of tocotrienols. When
retains 80% of the original carotenoids, making it a applied topically, vitamin E tocotrienols is quickly
remarkable source of Vitamin A. These natural absorbed into the deep layers of the skin.
antioxidants act as buffers against free radicals and
are believed to play a protective role in cellular Gamma- and delta-tocotrienols derived from palm oil
ageing, atherosclerosis, cancer, arthritis, and exhibit a strong activity against tumor promotion.
Alzheimer’s disease. (Sutapa and Analava, 2009). The delta and gamma factions of tocotrienols can
inhibit certain types of cancer, including both the
Effects of Tocopherols and Tocotrienol: The estrogen-positive and estrogen-negative breast cancer
tocopherol is one of the most interesting features in cells. The inhibition of the growth of breast cancer
palm oil because it consists mainly of the tocotrienol, cells by palm tocotrienols could have extraordinarily
with an unsaturated side chain. These are not found important clinical implications on world health. Not
in other common vegetable oil. Analytical work has only can the palm tocotrienols prevent the growth of
shown that an average of 50 to 60 percent of the these unwanted cells, but they can also do this in the
tocopherol content remains after refining conditions presence as well as in the absence of this estradiol,
used. They are less volatile and therefore, more thereby protecting against both hormone-related and
persistent in high temperature conditions, such as in other kinds of breast cancer. It is interesting to note
deep fat frying. The tocopherol content is a major that tocotrienols can inhibit or even kill normal cells,
fact in stabilizing palm oil against oxidation. In fact, but only in extremely high amount.
no other vegetable oil has as much Vitamin E as
compared to palm oil (Chow 1992). Palm oil contains Fatty acids: The fatty acids composition of palm oil
between 500 to 800ppm tocopherols which are is compared with other major oils and fats in their
antioxidants. Therefore, crude palm oil is stable natural state i.e unhydrogenated. The major
antioxidants and does not need extra. Natural vitamin difference between palm oil and other oils and fats is
E exists in eight different forms or isomers, four its higher proportion of palmitic acid in the
tocopherols and four tocotrienols. Natural palm oil constituent fatty acids. Palm olein and palm stearin
contains alpha, beta and gamma. Tocotrienols in share the same major fatty acids, namely palmitic
Vitamin E have been found to have antioxidant and acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid. However, palm
anti-cancer activities. Red palm oil antioxidant like olein has relatively more oleic acids and linoleic and
tocotrienols and carotenes are added to foods and less palmitic acids than does palm stearin. Palm oil
cosmetics due to their purported health benefits has a semisolid texture at room temperature, so
(Stuchlik, 2002; Rona, 2004). Red palm oil has been hydrogenation is not necessary. Other oils, such as
blended into mayonnaise and salad oil (Nagendran, soybean or rapeseed, are hydrogenated during the
2000). Tocotrienols by its action on liver enzymes manufacture of margarines and shortenings.
lowers blood cholesterol level without reduction in Hydrogenated fats often contain appreciable
good cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein, HDL). proportions of trans fatty acids and the effect of
Its antioxidant properties bring many benefits to the excessive intakes of these on health is uncertain
human body, such as preventing skin aging, (British Nutrition Foundation, 1987).
preventing fat oxidation, reducing blood pressure etc.
Human studies have shown that palm tocotrienols

*1IMOISI, OB; ILORI, GE; AGHO, I.; EKHATOR, JO

Palm oil, its nutritional and health implications 129

The concentration of fatty acids at the triglyceride 2- 48.2%, Myristic (C14) 16.2%, Palmitic (C16) 8.4%,
position of a fat has dietary consequences. Palm oil Capric (C10) 3.4%, Caprylic (C8) 3.3%, Stearic (C18)
has more palmitic acid at the 2-position than does any 2.5%.
other common vegetable oil and it was shown that
infants thrive on feeds with an enriched content of Mono Unsaturated acids-Oleic (C18) 15.3% Poly
palmitic acid at the triglycerides 2-position (Droese, Unsaturated acids-Linoleic (C18)2.3%
et al; 1976). With regards to triglycerides, palm oil is Other/Unknown 0.4%. Akintayo and Bayer (2002)
distinguished from other oils by its high levels of 48, reported that the free fatty acid composition of palm
50 and 52-C glycerides. The 50- and 52-C glycerides kernel oil values are above the allowable limits,
are present at almost equal levels. which may make it undergo oxidation and may easily
become rancid. Free fatty acid and acid value of PKO
Minor constituents: Although palm oil contains are high, indicating that they would require refining
tocopherols, tocotrienols and carotenoids. There are to make them suitable for edible purposes, and may
other minor components such as-; be better utilized for industrial purposes in crude
state.
Sterols: Sterol in palm oil does not seem to serve any
useful function in the oil nor do they have any Food uses of palm oil: Characteristics of palm
detrimental effect (Goh, et al; 1985). oil and its fractions: Palm oil processes several
characteristics that are important in determining its
Polar lipids: The main phospholipid in palm oil is incorporation into food products (Kheiri, 1987). 1). It
phosphatidycholine and the major glycolipid is has high solid-glyceride content, giving the required
monogalactosyldiglyceride. The wet milling process consistency without hydrogenation. 2). It is very
leaves most of the phospholipids in the palm fruit, so resistant to oxidation and therefore has a long shelf
crude palm oil contains relatively low levels of life. 3). Its level of high melting point triglycerides
phospholipids (5-130mg/L). It has been reported that together with its relatively low solid content at 10 oC
most of the phosphorus in the oil is present as helps in formulation of products with a wide plastic
inorganic phosphate, which may be undesirable. On range, which are suitable for hot climates and some
the other hand, phospholipids stabilize colloidal industrial applications. 4). It has the tendency to
dispersions and can be described as antioxidant crystallize in the small beta prime crystals, a property
synergists (Goh, et al; 1985). desirable for some applications, e.g for margarine and
cakes. 5). Its prices are often competitive. 6).
Phenols: During frying, palm oil tends to darken Because of its linoleic acid content (10-11%) it can
initially more quickly than some other oils and this only be used in limited quantities in margarines
may be due to the presence of phenolic compounds. specifying a high PUFA level. 7). It has relatively
Total concentration is usually <100mg/L in crude slow melting properties because of the wide plastic
palm oil (Berger, 1987). range. 8). Its slow crystallization properties can lead
to structural hardness in the finished product and a
Free fatty acids.: Free fatty acids are formed as a tendency for recrystallization.
result of hydrolysis of triglycerides. Crude palm oil
normally contains 2.5-5% of free fatty acids when it Margarines: One of the major uses of palm oil and
reaches the refinery but badly handled oils may its products is in margarine. Palm olein is suitable as
contain up to 10% (Young, 1987). the liquid component of margarine blends,
particularly in the firmer grades of products. Palm
Impurities: Small amount of iron and copper may be stearin is of some value as a hard stock but at higher
present in the crude oil, which are pro-oxidation levels it tends to cause posthardening. It can be
catalytic amounts. Iron impurities are derived from interesterfied with olein and then used in plastic
wear and tear of oil mill machinery and may be shortenings (Traitler, 1985).
minimized by using stainless steel at strategic points
in the milling process or by magnetic traps and Shortening: These are semisolid fats very similar in
filters. Crude palm oil usually contains<5ug/L iron function and formulation to cake margarines, but
when these precautions are taken. Other possible moisture free. They impart an easily broken, crumbly
impurities include tannins and trace flavonoids (Goh, texture, which melts in the mouth, to biscuits and
et al; 1985). short pastry. Consistency and spreadability of the fat
are important with a soft, smooth consistency needed.
Fatty acids compositions of Palm kernel Oil (Chow Blends based on palm oil, hydrogenated palm oil, or
1992) Palm Kernel Oil Saturated acids-Lauric (C12)

*1IMOISI, OB; ILORI, GE; AGHO, I.; EKHATOR, JO

Palm oil, its nutritional and health implications 130

blends of palm oil and palm stearin are widely used cholesterol biosynthesis and platelet aggregation, and
(Berger, 1987). reduction in blood pressure. However, on being used
in the oxidized state possesses potential dangers to
Vanaspati: This is a semisolid granular product, the physiological and biochemical functions of the
similar in formulation to the bakery shortenings, body. Oxidized palm oil induces an adverse effect on
mainly used as a general purpose cooking fat. It may plasma lipid profile, free fatty acids, phospholipids
be regarded as a vegetable ghee, having the same and cerebrosides. Additionally, oxidized palm oil
relationship to ghee that margarine has to butter. induces reproductive toxicity and organ toxicity
Vanaspati is usually formulated from partly particularly of the kidneys, lungs, liver and heart.
hydrogenated soya, cottonseed or rapeseed oils Available evidence suggests that at least part of the
together with up to 80% palm oil (Berger, 1987). oxidized oil impact on health is due to generation of
toxicants due to oxidation. Therefore, oxidized oil
Frying fats: Palm oil and olein have good oxidative and or the level of oxidation may reduce the health
stability due to the presence of natural antioxidants risk (Ebong et al; 1999). A study by a group of
(tocopherol and tocotrienols) and the absence of researchers in China comparing palm, soybean,
linoleic acid. They are comparatively cheap to use peanut oils and lard showed that palm oil actually
and produce fried food products with good flavor and increased the levels of good cholesterol and reduced
long shelf life (Berger, 1987). Palm olein was found the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood (Zhang, et
to compare well with groundnut oil and deteriorates al. 1997 cited by Koh, 2007). When not oxidized. A
less rapidly than many other vegetable oils such as study by Hornstra in 1990 also showed similar
sunflower oil and hardened soybean oil (Bracco, results. Zhang, et al. (1997) found that in normal and
1985). However, on repeated frying, a brown colour hypercholesterolemic subjects, the use of palm oil in
is formed from phenolic minor components in palm the diet should be safe and will not increase the risk
oil products and this colouration is unrelated to the of Cerebro Vascular Disease (CVD). Toxicological
deterioration of the fat. and pharmacological studies show that
supplementation with palm tocotrienols up to 2,500
Confectionery fats: Palm midfraction is used as a milligrams per day per kilogram of body weight does
coco-butter extender or as the main component (50- not produce any significant side effects. Although
70%) of coco-butter equivalent. This fraction should higher levels can be used for therapeutic purposes,
exhibit properties similar to those of cocoa butter those who want to enhance their Antioxidant intake
(Deffense, 1985). Two product based on can use 30 to 50 milligrams of tocotrienols daily
hydrogenated palm olein have also been used as (http://www.bettykamen.com/newsletters/palmoil.ht
cocoa butter extenders (Berger, 1986). m).

Other uses: Hard palm stearin is used as a dough Controversies of Palm Oil: For many years now, it
improver, as a crystallization starter in the has been established that the primary cholesterol-
confectionary industry and after glycerolysis, in food elevating fatty acids are the saturated fatty acids with
emulsifier preparations (Traitler, 1985). Stearin and 12 (lauric acid), 14 (myristic acid) and 16 (palmitic
hydrogenated palm oil are also used in dried soups acid) carbon atoms with a concomitant increase in the
and powder mixes (Kheiri, 1987). Olein when mixed risk of coronary heart disease. The World Health
with other fats and oils, gives a suitable fat mix for Organization in its report (2003) states that there is
baby-food formulations (Traitler, 1985). Together convincing evidence that palmitic oil consumption
with palm oil, it is also used in filled milk and liquid contributes to an increased risk of developing
coffee whiteners. Palm oil, on its own or blended cardiovascular diseases. In the past, palm oil was
with palm kernel oil refined, can also be used in attacked as “saturated” since it contains 44% palmitic
nondairy ice cream, chocolate coatings, and sandwich acid and 5% stearic acid, and thereby allegedly raises
cream. (Kheiri, 1987). blood cholesterol and increases the risk of
cardiovascular disease. However, people even in
Benefits of Palm Oil: Palm oil is consumed in the hospitals were advised to consume little palm oil.
fresh state and or at various levels of oxidation. But, a sizeable and growing body of scientific
Feeding experiments in various animal and humans evidence indicates that palm oil’s effect on blood
highlighted the beneficial role of fresh palm oil to cholesterol is relatively neutral when compared to
health. Although when obtained in the crude state, other fats and oils. Palm oil raises plasma cholesterol
oils and fat are mainly unpalatable, but the health only when an excess of dietary cholesterol is
benefits include reduction in the risk of arterial presented in the diet. Two main meta-analyses have
thrombosis and atherosclerosis, inhibition of examined the effect of palmitic acid (found in palm

*1IMOISI, OB; ILORI, GE; AGHO, I.; EKHATOR, JO

Palm oil, its nutritional and health implications 131

oil) on serum cholesterol. In a 1997 study based on American Journal of Public Health (1990)
134 clinical studies, British researchers concluded acknowledged that even though ‘’ the focus of
that, compared to carbohydrates, palmitic acid raises dietary recommendations is usually a reduction of
blood cholesterol levels (Clarke, et al. 1997). In saturated fat intake, no relation between saturated fat
2003, Dutch scientists conducted another meta- intake and risk of CHD was observed in the most
analysis of 35 clinical studies (Mensink, et al. 2003) informative prospective study to date.’’ Another
and Examined what many experts consider the best editorial, this time by Castelli, in the Archives of
indicator of heart-disease risk: the ratio of total Internal Medicine (1992), declared for the record that
Cholesterol to HDL cholesterol (Institute of ‘’….in Mass, the more saturated fat one ate, the more
Medicine, National Academies 2002). Palmitic acid cholesterol one ate, the more calories one ate, the
increased the total: HDL cholesterol ratio more than lower the person’s serum cholesterol. Would
other saturated fatty acids, including lauric acid and predict…’’ Castlli, (1992) further admitted that ‘’ for
mysristic acid, which are abundant in palm kernel oil example, we found that the people who ate the most
and coconut oil; the other highly saturated tropical oil cholesterol, ate the most saturated fat, ate the most
(Enig, 1993). Palm oil increases the total: HDL calories, weighed the least, and were the most
cholesterol ratio more than the average U.S. or physically active.’’
British dietary fat (Jensen, et al. 1999). That finding
indicates that, in terms of blood cholesterol, palm oil Effects Of Palm Oil on Health: Beneficial substance
is somewhat more harmful than the average U.S. can be detrimental in excessive quality. Malignant
dietary fat and much more harmful than such liquid cells, on the other hand, are very sensitive to
oils as olive, soy and canola. The World Health tocotrienols. In fact, the more cancerous the cell, the
Organization has stated that there is “convincing more susceptible it is to the destructive effects of
evidence” that palmitic acid increases the risk of tocotrienol, so very little is required to accomplish its
cardiovascular disease (World Health Organization favorable role of cancer cell annihilation (Ebong et
2003). But due to the antioxidant present it al; 1999).
neutralizes the palmitic acid present in it. But if the
Palm Oil is oxidized and the Free Fatty Acids is more In developing countries, vegetable oils are replacing
than 5% it becomes dangerous, a number of pre-1990 animal fats because of the cost and health concerns
human feeding studies. Reported that palm oil diets and Palm Oil has become one of the major edible oils
resulted in lower serum cholesterol levels than pre- in the world (Chandrasekharan, 1999). It is reassuring
study values. Indeed, scientists concluded that these to know that the consumption of Palm Oil as a source
studies, although not specifically designed to study of dietary fat does not pose any additional risks for
palm oil, have revealed that a palm oil diet lowered coronary artery disease when consumed in realistic
plasma cholesterol compared with the starting amounts as part of a healthy diet (Pedersen et al.
periods during which the subjects were eating their 1999). Increasingly, over the past 40 years, the
habitual Western diets. These conclusions were conception of diet has undergone major changes.
questioned because the studies were not designed to Many of these changes involve changes of fats and
measure the effects of palm oil. But subsequent oils. There has been an increasing supply of the
studies, specifically designed to evaluate palm oil, partially hydrogenated trans- containing vegetable
confirmed that palm oil’s impact on serum lipid and oils and a decreasing amount of the lauric acid-
lipoprotein profiles compares favorably to corn oil, containing oils (Enig, 1996). As a result, there has
lightly hydrogenated soybean oil, and olive oil. Thus, been an increased consumption of tran’s fatty acids
palm oil’s impact on serum lipids is more like a and linoleic acid and a decrease in the consumption
monounsaturated than saturated oil. Palm oil contains of lauric acid. This type of change in diet has an
a high percentage of monounsaturated (40%). Palm effect on the fatty acids the body has available for
oil’s saturated fatty acids are palmitic (44%) and metabolic activities. Although popular literature of
stearic (5%), which do not appear to evaluate blood epidemiological studies usually attribute an increased
cholesterol in people with cholesterol levels within risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) to elevated
normal ranges. Palm oil stimulates the synthesis of levels of serum cholesterol, which in turn are thought
protective HDL cholesterol and removal of harmful to derive from a dietary intake of saturated fats and
Low Density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Palm oil cholesterol (Mann, 1993).
is rich in vitamin E, (particularly tocotrienols), which
appear to reduce serum cholesterol concentrations Saturated fatty acids-; A considerable body of
(Ebong, et al. 1999). Hydrogenated vegetable fats are experimental has shown that blood cholesterol
the problem; Animal fats are the problem.’’ Recently, concentration can be modulated in individuals by
an editorial by Harvard’s Walter Willet, in the alteration in the fatty acids content of the fat in their

*1IMOISI, OB; ILORI, GE; AGHO, I.; EKHATOR, JO

Palm oil, its nutritional and health implications 132

diet (Keys, 1965, Reiser, 1973). An increase in of harmful LDL cholesterol. Palm oil is rich in
saturated fatty acid in the diet in the experiment vitamin E, (particularly tocotrienols), which appear to
generally leads to blood cholesterol content (LDL reduce serum cholesterol concentrations and has
cholesterol). An average response of group of potent anti–oxidant effects.
individuals is predictable to a reasonable
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*1IMOISI, OB; ILORI, GE; AGHO, I.; EKHATOR, JO