Who Should Avoid Monolaurin? When to Be Cautious
Who Should Avoid Monolaurin?
Monolaurin has attracted attention as a natural compound with antimicrobial and immune-supporting properties. Found in coconut oil and even in human breast milk, it has been studied for decades and is widely available as a dietary supplement. For many people, monolaurin is considered safe and well tolerated, and it even carries FDA recognition as a food additive.
But like any supplement, certain situations may call for extra care before adding it to your wellness routine. While research points to a strong safety record overall, studies have not yet explored every population in depth, leaving some important questions unanswered.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at when caution might be needed with monolaurin. By understanding where the research stands, and which groups should approach it more carefully, you’ll be better equipped to decide whether it’s a good fit for you or your family.
Key Takeaways
Monolaurin has a strong safety record. It’s been studied since the 1960s, is naturally found in coconut oil and breast milk, and is recognized by the FDA as safe for use in foods.
Medical conditions and medications matter. While no studies point to serious risks, research is limited in certain groups such as pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with chronic illnesses. Checking with a healthcare provider is always the safest approach.
Age can play a role. Monolaurin is generally well tolerated in adults, but there’s little research on children. For older adults, it can be a supportive supplement, though it’s wise to consider other health factors and medications.
Safe even with coconut allergies. Although monolaurin is derived from lauric acid in coconuts, it does not contain the proteins that trigger coconut allergies. Just be sure to choose GMP-certified, third-party tested products to avoid any chance of contamination.
Quality matters most. Supplements made to high standards ensure purity, consistency, and safety, giving you more confidence in what you’re taking.
Are there any medical conditions that make monolaurin unsafe?
So far, there isn’t much research showing that monolaurin is unsafe for people with specific medical conditions. Human studies are limited, but one trial of monolaurin used in a 5% gel found that it was generally well tolerated in healthy adults, with only mild side effects reported [1], [2]. Importantly, no serious safety concerns were noted in these short-term studies.
That said, research on medical conditions that may make monolaurin unsafe is limited. Most clinical trials have excluded certain groups, such as pregnant or breastfeeding women, children, and people with chronic illnesses. Because of this, there isn’t enough evidence to say whether monolaurin is safe for these populations, especially when taken regularly or in higher amounts over time.
What we do know is that monolaurin (also called glycerol monolaurate) has a long history of safe use in foods and cosmetics. The FDA recognizes it as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) when used in food applications [3], and it is widely used as an emulsifier and stabilizer in products like margarine, spreads, and baked goods. It also helps extend shelf life by controlling microbial growth in processed foods.
In short: monolaurin appears safe for most healthy adults, but it’s best to speak with a healthcare professional before starting monolaurin.
Should I take it if I’m on prescription medication?
If you’re already taking prescription medication, it’s always wise to check with your healthcare provider before adding anything new—including supplements like monolaurin.
So far, research on monolaurin and medications is limited, but what we do know is encouraging. For example, one lab study found that monolaurin may actually work synergistically with certain antibiotics, potentially supporting their effectiveness [4]. While these results are early and based on lab models, they suggest that monolaurin may complement, rather than interfere with, some treatments.
That said, every person and every prescription is different. The safest approach is to:
Start small (many begin around 600 mg per day) and increase gradually if it feels right.
Pay attention to how your body responds over several weeks, since benefits are usually gradual.
Being Generally Recognized as Safe for use in foods means monolaurin already has a strong safety record. With thoughtful use and consistency, many people find it a valuable addition to their wellness routine.
Is it okay for kids or elderly people?
Monolaurin has been used as a natural supplement since the 1960s, and in that time hundreds of studies have been conducted. Importantly, virtually none of these studies have suggested that monolaurin is unsafe. In fact, it has been shown to have a strong safety profile in both food and supplement use, which is why it continues to be widely studied and used today.
That said, nearly all of the research has focused on adults or laboratory settings [5], [6], [7]. There’s very little clinical data on how monolaurin specifically affects children, so parents should be cautious and consult with a pediatrician before considering it for younger age groups.
For older adults, monolaurin is generally considered well tolerated, especially when taken in standard supplemental amounts. However, since many elderly people also take prescription medications or have chronic health conditions, it’s wise to check with a healthcare provider before adding any new supplement.
In short, while decades of research suggest monolaurin is broadly safe, extra care should be taken with children (due to lack of studies) and with older adults who may be managing other health factors.
Can you take it if you’re allergic to coconut?
Since monolaurin is most often derived from coconut oil, people with coconut allergies may wonder if it’s safe for them. The research shows that coconut allergy is caused by coconut proteins and not the fatty acids. Monolaurin is made from lauric acid, a fat, which generally does not trigger allergic responses. In fact, animal testing, repeated doses of lauric acid did not cause toxicity or allergic reactions and studies have shown that lauric acid has inherent anti-inflammatory properties [2], [8].
That said, even trace amounts of allergenic proteins can cause reactions in highly sensitive individuals [9]. If a monolaurin supplement is not highly purified, there may be a small risk for those with confirmed coconut allergies.
For that reason, it’s best to look for products made in GMP-certified facilities and, ideally, those that undergo third-party testing for purity and quality. This helps ensure you’re getting a highly refined form of monolaurin with minimal risk of cross-contamination.
The bottom line: monolaurin itself usually doesn’t cause problems for coconut-allergic individuals, but product quality, purity, and individual sensitivity matter. If you have a confirmed allergy, check with a healthcare provider before use and choose supplements that meet the highest safety standards.
References:
A. C. Mancuso, L. Widdice, B. L. Hughes, C. K. Stockdale, D. Bernstein, and P. Winokur, “5% Monolaurin Vaginal Gel for the Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial [23J],” Obstet. Gynecol., vol. 133, p. 143S, May 2019, doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000558839.33387.d5.
F. O. Nitbani, P. J. P. Tjitda, F. Nitti, J. Jumina, and A. I. R. Detha, “Antimicrobial Properties of Lauric Acid and Monolaurin in Virgin Coconut Oil: A Review,” ChemBioEng Rev., vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 442–461, 2022, doi: 10.1002/cben.202100050.
“21 CFR 582.4505 -- Mono- and diglycerides of edible fats or oils, or edible fat-forming acids.” Accessed: Aug. 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/part-582/section-582.4505
“Novel synergistic interactions between monolaurin, a mono-acyl glycerol and β lactam antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus: an in vitro study | BMC Infectious Diseases | Full Text.” Accessed: Aug. 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-024-09261-9
L. A. Barker, B. W. Bakkum, and C. Chapman, “The Clinical Use of Monolaurin as a Dietary Supplement: A Review of the Literature,” J. Chiropr. Med., vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 305–310, Dec. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2019.02.004.
Q. Zhang et al., “Monolaurin Confers a Protective Effect Against Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Infection in Piglets by Regulating the Interferon Pathway,” Front. Immunol., vol. 12, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.797476.
E. Subroto and R. Indiarto, “Bioactive monolaurin as an antimicrobial and its potential to improve the immune system and against COVID-19: a review,” Food Res., vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 2355–2365, Nov. 2020, doi: 10.26656/fr.2017.4(6).324.
“Repeated-Dose Toxicity of Lauric Acid and Its Preventive Effect Against Tracheal Hyper-Responsiveness in Wistar Rats with Possible In Silico Molecular Targets.” Accessed: Aug. 20, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/2/221
L. Kruse, J. Lor, R. Yousif, J. A. Pongracic, and A. B. Fishbein, “Coconut allergy: Characteristics of reactions and diagnostic predictors in a pediatric tertiary care center,” Ann. Allergy. Asthma. Immunol., vol. 126, no. 5, pp. 562-568.e1, May 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2021.01.027.
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