<![CDATA[Introduction: Hypercholesterolemia is closely associated with increased cardiovascular risk and is influenced by unhealthy dietary patterns, aging, obesity, and limited physical activity. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) has been widely introduced as a complementary nutritional therapy because it contains medium-chain fatty acids, polyphenols, and antioxidant compounds that may improve lipid metabolism. Nevertheless, findings regarding its effectiveness in reducing cholesterol levels remain inconsistent. This study aimed to analyze the effect of VCO administration on total cholesterol levels among patients with hypercholesterolemia in Padukuhan Tegalsari, Pakembinangun, Yogyakarta. Research Methodology: This study employed a quasi-experimental pre–post test design with a control group approach. A total of 66 respondents with total cholesterol levels >180 mg/dL were selected using purposive sampling and were equally allocated to the intervention (n=33) and control (n=33) groups. The intervention group received VCO at a dose of 2 × 20 mL daily for 14 consecutive days, while the control group received no intervention. Total cholesterol levels were measured using peripheral blood samples before and after the intervention period. Data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney test with a significance level of 0.05. Results: Most respondents were elderly (89.4%) and female (59.1%). Risk-related behaviours remained common, including daily consumption of fried foods (46.96%) and low physical activity (<3 times/week; 46.96%). Before treatment, both groups showed comparable cholesterol levels (p=0.326), with most respondents classified in the very high cholesterol category. After the intervention, the proportion of respondents in the very high cholesterol category increased from 63.8% to 84.8% in the intervention group. Statistical analysis demonstrated no significant difference in total cholesterol levels between the intervention and control groups after treatment (p=0.200). Conclusion: Administration of VCO at a dose of 2 × 20 mL for 14 days did not significantly reduce total cholesterol levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Lipid profile management requires a comprehensive approach that takes various risk factors into account. The limitations of this study include the relatively short duration of the intervention (14 days) and the fact that a complete lipid profile assessment was not carried out. Future studies are recommended to employ a longer intervention period and to evaluate lipid profiles comprehensively, including HDL, LDL and total cholesterol.]]>
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