‘‘Anti-lice Protector Shampoo’’: Clinical Study Shows Lack of Efficacy of Coconut Oil Derivatives in the Elimination of Head Louse Infestation

Abstract

Coconut oil and its derivatives are widely thought to kill head lice by occlusion and asphyxiation. There is no evidence in support of coconut derivative-based products sold to treat pediculosis. This study was designed to test one such product. This was an open-label clinical study in 31 people. The treatment was shampoo containing 1% fractionated coconut oil. Treatment was given on day 0 and day 8. Efficacy was measured using a detection comb on day 1, day 8 and day 16 after the first treatment. The trial was registered in the current controlled trials database, under number ISRCTN79136319. The first application of the product eliminated the lice from 7/31 participants, and 12/31 (38.7%) people had no lice at the end of the study. Lice of all development stages were found post treatment at all assessments on one or more participants. This indicates that the treatment failed to kill all stages of the life cycle of head lice. Two applications of the modified coconut shampoo were not effective at killing head lice or their eggs. The results confirm other studies that show little intrinsic activity in vegetable oils and modified oils. Most of the activity in shampoos is probably due to other product components, such as high levels of detergents.