Home Ingredients Cococin® (Freeze-Dried Coconut Water — Sabinsa)
Hydration

Cococin® (Freeze-Dried Coconut Water — Sabinsa)

Cocos nucifera
Evidence Level
Preliminary
2 Clinical Trials
1 Documented Benefit
1/5 Evidence Score

Cococin is Sabinsa's freeze-dried (lyophilized) coconut water powder, made from the liquid of tender green coconuts (Cocos nucifera). The process is covered by US Patent 7,300,682, which describes drying the fresh liquid into a stable powder meant to keep its natural growth-promoting compounds along with its minerals. Coconut water is high in potassium and lower in sodium. No published human trial has tested Cococin taken by mouth. The two trials on this page used ordinary coconut water as a drink and found it rehydrated people after sweaty exercise about as well as a sports drink, with plain coconut water not significantly better than water in one of them. Hair and skin claims made for the brand come from topical products and unpublished company reports, so they are not covered here.

Studied Dose No oral dose of Cococin has been tested in a published human trial. The coconut water trials cited gave a drink volume matched to the fluid lost during exercise.
Active Compound Freeze-dried coconut water (Cocos nucifera) powder containing the liquid's natural minerals, sugars and other compounds; Cococin WS is a water-soluble variant.

Benefits

Rehydration, as tested with ordinary coconut water rather than Cococin

In 12 exercise-trained men, bottled water, coconut water, coconut water from concentrate and a sports drink all restored hydration about equally. In 10 men, rehydration was 65% with plain coconut water, 58% with water and 68% with a sports drink; only the sports drink and a sodium-enriched coconut water beat water significantly. Neither study used Cococin.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Mechanism of action

1

Electrolytes and fluid

Coconut water supplies fluid, potassium, some sodium and natural sugars, so it works as an ordinary fluid replacement drink. Its sodium is modest; in one trial it needed added sodium before it beat plain water significantly.

Clinical trials

1
Coconut water vs sports drink and water after dehydrating exercise
PubMed

Randomized, single-blind crossover comparing bottled water, VitaCoco coconut water, coconut water from concentrate and a sports drink. Funded by VitaCoco. Cococin was not tested. (Kalman et al. 2012, J Int Soc Sports Nutr)

12 exercise-trained men who lost about 2% of body weight in 60 minutes of treadmill exercise.

All four drinks restored hydration similarly, with no differences in fluid retention or later treadmill time to exhaustion. Coconut water caused more bloating and stomach upset.

2
Plain and sodium-enriched coconut water after exercise in the heat
PubMed

Crossover comparing plain water, a sports drink, fresh young coconut water and sodium-enriched coconut water over a 2-hour recovery. Cococin was not tested. (Ismail et al. 2007, Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health)

10 healthy men who lost about 3% of body weight running in the heat.

Rehydration was 58% with water, 65% with plain coconut water, 68% with the sports drink and 69% with sodium-enriched coconut water; only the sports drink and the sodium-enriched version were significantly better than water.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Coconut water has a long history as an ordinary drink, but no published study has tested the freeze-dried powder at supplement doses.
High potassium intake can raise blood potassium in people with kidney disease or who take medicines that reduce potassium excretion.
Bloating and stomach upset were more common with coconut water than with water or a sports drink in one trial.
Coconut allergy is possible; check the label if you are sensitive.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: concentrated supplement doses have not been studied; check with a clinician.

Important Drug interactions

Potassium-sparing diuretics: these reduce potassium excretion and can cause hyperkalemia; coconut water products add potassium.
ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers: same potassium concern; ask your clinician.
No other drug interactions are documented, and the ingredient has not been formally studied for interactions.

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Frequently asked questions about Cococin® (Freeze-Dried Coconut Water — Sabinsa)

What is Cococin?

Cococin is Sabinsa's freeze-dried (lyophilized) coconut water powder, made from the liquid of tender green coconuts (Cocos nucifera). The process is covered by US Patent 7,300,682, which describes drying the fresh liquid into a stable powder meant to keep its natural growth-promoting compounds along with its minerals.

What is Cococin used for?

Cococin is researched primarily for Hydration. In 12 exercise-trained men, bottled water, coconut water, coconut water from concentrate and a sports drink all restored hydration about equally.

What is the recommended dosage of Cococin?

No oral dose of Cococin has been tested in a published human trial. The coconut water trials cited gave a drink volume matched to the fluid lost during exercise. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Cococin safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for Cococin include: Coconut water has a long history as an ordinary drink, but no published study has tested the freeze-dried powder at supplement doses. High potassium intake can raise blood potassium in people with kidney disease or who take medicines that reduce potassium excretion. It may also interact with some medications. Cococin is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Cococin interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Potassium-sparing diuretics: these reduce potassium excretion and can cause hyperkalemia; coconut water products add potassium. ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers: same potassium concern; ask your clinician. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Cococin?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Cococin as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 2 study summaries and 4 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(4 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Kalman DS, Feldman S, Krieger DR, Bloomer RJ. Comparison of coconut water and a carbohydrate-electrolyte sport drink on measures of hydration and physical performance in exercise-trained men. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2012;9(1):1. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-9-1.PubMedUsed to support: Single-blind crossover in 12 exercise-trained men comparing bottled water, VitaCoco coconut water, coconut water concentrate and a carbohydrate-electrolyte sports drink: all promoted rehydration with little difference between them, and coconut water caused more bloating and stomach upset. Funded by VitaCoco; Cococin was not tested.
  2. Ismail I, Singh R, Sirisinghe RG. Rehydration with sodium-enriched coconut water after exercise-induced dehydration. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2007;38(4):769-85..PubMedUsed to support: Crossover in 10 healthy men: rehydration was 58% with plain water, 65% with plain coconut water, 68% with a sports drink and 69% with sodium-enriched coconut water. Only the sports drink and the sodium-enriched version were significantly better than water; the sodium-enriched version caused less nausea and stomach upset. Cococin was not tested.
  3. Majeed M, Badmaev V. Method of preparation and use of coconut water in mammalian tissue nourishment, growth and healthy maintenance. US Patent 7,300,682 B2. United States Patent and Trademark Office. 2007;US7300682B2, granted November 27, 2007; assignees Sami Chemicals and Extracts Ltd and Sabinsa Corp. Related European application EP1341547A1 (applicant Sabinsa Corp)..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; patent record. Describes freeze-drying fresh green coconut water into a stable powder intended to keep its growth-promoting compounds (such as cytokinins) for nutritional, cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses. A patent describes a process; it is not evidence that the powder has any health effect.
  4. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Potassium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. 2022;Updated June 2, 2022..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; official NIH fact sheet. States that ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and potassium-sparing diuretics reduce potassium excretion and can cause hyperkalemia, and that potassium intake guidance does not apply to people with impaired potassium excretion.