Green coconut water, the clear liquid inside young coconuts, is often celebrated for its hydrating properties and nutrient content. Still, its potential effects on depressive-like behaviour are less commonly discussed.
In a new study, researchers confirmed green coconut water as a potential natural therapeutic remedy to help reduce oxidative stress. This factor has been linked to depression.
The study, “Green coconut water has suppressive effects on depression-like behaviours,” was published in the Journal of Biological Research & Biotechnology.
They found that this clear fluid found inside coconuts exerts a substantial antidepressant effect as it increases hippocampal and prefrontal cortex tissue volume with a reduction in neural degeneration when compared with the induced and recovery groups.
Hippocampal volumes are smaller during depressive episodes and resolve upon illness resolution.
In addition, green coconut water also caused an increase in blood levels of monoamine neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.
Monoamine neurotransmitters play roles in the nervous system and especially in the brain. It regulates consciousness, cognition, attention, and emotion.
Low levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters are associated with depression. Many medications used to treat anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders often target ways to increase the level of serotonin in the brain.
The study considered the ameliorative effect of green coconut water on dexamethasone-induced depression-like behaviours in female rats. Dexamethasone (DEX) is well known to induce depression-like behaviours in both experimental and human subjects.
Throughout the research, the animals’ weights were checked, and they were frequently observed for signs of distress for 21 consecutive days. Behavioural tests were video-recorded and were visually analysed using a video profiler.
Increased immobility time through the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST) were used to stage the extent of depression in rats that were given 10 ml/kg of body weight of green coconut water daily for 21 days.
The “duration of immobility” was evaluated, and this referred to the time interval when mice were non-energetic and showed none of the escape-orientated behaviours like swimming, diving, jumping, rearing, or sniffing.
There was a decrease in immobility time during FST and TST among the rats that received combined administration of DEX and green coconut water when compared with the control and green coconut water-only groups.
Furthermore, the result also revealed a significant decrease in immobility time during FST and TST in the rats that were post-treated with green coconut water compared with rats treated with DEX only.
A significant increase was observed in serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine serum levels in the rats that received green coconut water.
Depression is a mental disorder characterised by the evidence of sadness, absence of pleasure, and low self-esteem. About 21 percent of people worldwide suffer from this mood disorder, which is the most common and serious type of mental disease.
Stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one, trauma, divorce, loneliness, and a lack of support can cause depression.
After multiple treatments, antidepressant medications currently have only been demonstrated to produce remission rates of roughly 56 percent. Further complicating the management of this disorder is the fact that the majority of anti-depressant drugs now on the market have disturbing side effects such as dry mouth and headaches, making the development of newer, more effective, and tolerable agents a pressing matter.
While coconut water itself is not a direct treatment for depression, staying hydrated and maintaining good electrolyte balance are important for overall brain function, which can influence mood. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances can exacerbate feelings of fatigue and low mood, which are common in depression.
Anecdotal reports indicated that green coconut water, the water in an immature coconut fruit, relieves many medical ailments like heart and kidney health and diabetes. It also helps to recuperate from a bout of gastric flu and fever.
Research has shown that coconut water can lower blood sugar levels and improve other health markers in animals with diabetes. In a study from 2015, researchers found that the rats given coconut water had lower levels of haemoglobin A1c, indicating better long-term blood sugar control.
Early research suggests that water from coconuts may help prevent kidney stones by reducing crystal and stone formation. Kidney stones are created when calcium, oxalate, and other compounds combine to form crystals in your urine. These crystals can then form tiny stones.
In a 2013 study in rats with kidney stones, coconut water prevented crystals from sticking to the kidneys and other parts of the urinary tract. It also reduced the number of crystals formed in the urine.
Some evidence also support drinking coconut water to reduce heart disease risk. In an older study in 2008, researchers fed rats a diet rich in fats and cholesterol. After 45 days, the coconut water group had a reduction in cholesterol and triglyceride levels similar to the effects of a statin drug used to lower cholesterol.
Read Also: NELFUND, Kebbi govt partner to expand student loan access
