Fitness
Fact-checked

At TheHealthBoard, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is Lauric Acid?

Douglas Bonderud
Douglas Bonderud

Lauric acid, also properly known as dodecanoic acid, is a saturated fatty acid commonly found in coconut and palm oils, as well as in milk. Appearing as a white, powdery substance, its main use in manufacturing is as an ingredient in soaps and shampoos. Infants consume it during breastfeeding, and children, teens and adults ingest it by eating the fruits and oils that contain it. Research suggests it can have multiple health benefits because of its antimicrobial properties, but more studies are necessary to confirm initial results.

Chemical Properties and Appearance

Breast milk contains about 6% lauric acid.
Breast milk contains about 6% lauric acid.

The chemical formula for this substance is C12H24O2. With 12 carbon atoms, it is classified as a medium chain fatty acid. These always have between six and 12 carbon atoms, which distinguishes them from short-chain types of two to six carbon atoms and long-chain versions with more than 12. There are no double bonds between the carbon atoms, so it is a saturated fatty acid. Its molar mass is 200.31776.

According to some sources, it has a scent often described as similar to soap or bay oil. It normally is white in color and occurs as a solid, crystalline powder. The melting point is 109.8°F (43.2°C), while the boiling point is 570°F (298.9°C).

Common Sources

Lauric acid is found in coconut oil.
Lauric acid is found in coconut oil.

Dodecanoic acid is found naturally in a handful of sources, primarily plant oils and milk. Coconut milk is probably the best-known source, as 45 – 57% of its fats are lauric. Palm kernel oil and laurel oil also have high concentrations of around 50%. Human breast milk has the next highest level at around 6%, followed by goat and cow’s milk, which both have around 3%.

Manufacturing Uses

Palm oil is a common source of lauric acid.
Palm oil is a common source of lauric acid.

Companies frequently use lauric acid to make shampoo and soap — it is often paired with sodium hydroxide and typically is on product labels as sodium laurel sulfate. Its chemical composition lets it interact with fats, as well as polar solvents, which are substances that dissolve other things and which have a small electrical charge — water is an example. As a result, it can bond with the oils found on hair, after which a person can wash it away. Other common uses include the manufacturing of lauryl acohol, insecticides and cosmetics.

Application in Cooking

Lauric acid is used in some treatments to treat cold sores.
Lauric acid is used in some treatments to treat cold sores.

Both palm oils and coconut oil, excellent sources of lauric acid, are acceptable for use in cooking. The first type is widely used in commercial food production, because it is relatively inexpensive. The second is prized for its sweet flavor and is often preferred for making particular types of seafood. The use of these options varies by region. In the United States and much of North America, for example, people rely more on vegetable oil, but many tropical countries still predominantly use coconut and palm versions.

Lauric acid can be found in milk.
Lauric acid can be found in milk.

In recent years, researchers have stigmatized both these oils as being unhealthy, largely due to studies that suggested that saturated fats, including lauric acid, raise “bad” LDL cholesterol and contribute to problems such as heart disease. In reality, many medium-chain fatty acids can be quite beneficial. Experts also now know that the worst offenders are trans fats, which come from the hydrogenation of vegetable oils and which simultaneously raise LDL and lower “good” HDL cholesterol. They recommend avoiding hydrogenated oils for this reason and suggest that, in general, saturated fats such as dodecanoic acid should make up no more than 10% of a person’s dietary calories. A better understanding of the different types of fats and their health implications is leading to coconut and palm oils becoming more popular.

Role in Medicine

Medical professionals suspect that lauric acid has potential health benefits, possessing antimicrobial properties. They know that, when consumed, it combines with glycerol to form

monolaurin

, which is a compound the body uses to destroy lipid-coated microbes. People use it in treatments for conditions such as yeast infections,

eczema

and

psoriasis

,

cold sores

, the common

flu

and even preventing the transmission of

HIV

/AIDS from mothers to their babies. Some studies also suggest that it can increase

metabolism

, similar to other medium-chain fatty acids. There is not sufficient evidence to support many of the claims made, however, so most researchers agree that more research is necessary to form definitive conclusions.

Scientific Use

Using techniques such as melting-point depression, scientists use lauric acid to study the molar weights of unidentified substances. By completing these processes, they are able to make some conclusions about what the unknown item might be. In many cases, this basic identification is necessary to ensure the safety of researchers and to determine how to proceed with more tests or experiments.

Discussion Comments

orangey03

@lighth0se33 – Wow, that is strange. I have always thought that coconut oil and lauric acid were kind of the same thing, so it is hard for me to imagine a soapy substance being derived from this acid.

I also use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, but I mix pure coconut oil into them for extra moisture and shine. The coconut oil itself is very smooth, and it doesn't strip my hair of anything.

Since I've been using it, my hair has gotten drastically shinier and silkier. So, I am all for lauric acid in this form.

kylee07drg

I suppose it is really convenient for babies that lauric acid benefits the immune system. Since breast milk contains it, they get a natural line of defense against certain diseases or infections.

I have heard that a baby's immune system takes six months to completely develop, so they rely on their mother's milk for protection. My sister did some research while she was pregnant, and she learned that if she drank coconut water or oil daily, then her breast milk would contain much more lauric acid. She wanted the best protection for her baby, so she began doing this, even though she didn't like the taste of it.

She also learned that coconut oil can help cut down on stomach and intestinal discomfort that babies often go through. It gets rid of bacteria that can cause pain and cramping, so the baby is able to get more rest.

lighth0se33

My sister is very adamant about the negative effects of sodium lauryl sulfate found in soaps and shampoos. She told me that it is derived from lauric acid, so I should probably avoid using that, too.

She says that sodium lauryl sulfate can cause cancer. It is used in detergents and shampoos to make them able to produce suds. Without them, the shampoo would just sit there on your hair.

I have switched to a shampoo that contains neither lauric acid nor sodium lauryl sulfate, and it is a bit weird. It feels more like conditioner than shampoo, because it doesn't bubble when it lathers up.

cloudel

I'm familiar with the lauric acid in coconut oil. My best friend used it to treat her daughter's exzema.

It provided relief for her when nothing else would work. She had even tried expensive medications, but they did nothing to help the problem.

Her daughter was only two years old at the time, so she cried and complained a lot about her uncomfortable skin condition. This made my friend desperate enough to try alternative remedies.

She read that soaking in warm bath water with coconut oil could provide relief for eczema. She put a cup of the oil in the water and stirred it up. She left her daughter in the tub for half an hour, and she said that afterward, the child was happy and wanted to play because she felt so much better.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Breast milk contains about 6% lauric acid.
      By: Kzenon
      Breast milk contains about 6% lauric acid.
    • Lauric acid is found in coconut oil.
      By: Marco Mayer
      Lauric acid is found in coconut oil.
    • Palm oil is a common source of lauric acid.
      By: uckyo
      Palm oil is a common source of lauric acid.
    • Lauric acid is used in some treatments to treat cold sores.
      By: uwimages
      Lauric acid is used in some treatments to treat cold sores.
    • Lauric acid can be found in milk.
      By: vlorzor
      Lauric acid can be found in milk.