Notable studies done on Medium-Chain Triglycerides: 1
Treatments & Benefits
Usually extracted from coconut oil, Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) are a unique form of dietary fat that have a wide range of positive health benefits. The potential anti-aging properties of MCTs have been largely unrecognized by many health enthusiasts. Dietary fats are molecules composed of individual carbon atoms linked into chains ranging from 2 to 22 carbon atoms in length. Long Chain Fatty Acids (LCTs) ranging from 12 to 18 carbons long are the most common forms of fat in the American diet. MCTs, however, are composed of only 6 to 10 carbon links. Because of their shorter chain length, MCTs have a number of unique properties which give them advantages over the more common LCTs.
Until the early 1980s, MCTs were only available mostly in small quantities contained in butter, coconut oil, and other natural sources. However, Dr. Vigen K. Babayan of the Nutrition Laboratory, Harvard University, developed a process to produce them in large quantities, to be used primarily for therapeutic and dietary uses.
MCTs provide about 10% fewer calories than LCTs – 8.3 calories per gram for MCTs versus 9 calories per gram for LCTs. But this is just one of the unique advantages of MCTs. More importantly, reduced chain length also means that MCTs are more rapidly absorbed by the body and more quickly metabolized (burned) as fuel, without requiring the presence of carnitine, which LCTs (Long-chain Fatty Acids) do. The result of this accelerated metabolic conversion is that instead of being stored as fat, the calories contained in MCTs are very efficiently converted into fuel for immediate use by organs, like the brain, and muscles.
One of the reasons MCTs enhance energy is because they cross the double mitochondrial membrane very easily, and do not require the presence of carnitine, which LCTs do. The result is an excess of acetyl-coA, which then follows various metabolic pathways, both in the mitochondria (Krebs Cycle) and in the cytosol, resulting in the production of ketones. Scientists attribute the increased energy from consumption of MCTs to the rapid formation of ketone bodies. MCTs are a good choice for anyone who wants to increase energy levels, recover faster following major surgery, aid normal or stunted growth, enhance athletic performance, and to counteract the decreased energy production that results from aging.
In recent years MCTs have gained in popularity with athletes seeking to increase energy levels and enhance endurance during high-intensity exercise, as well as serving as an alternative energy source for athletes on high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets.
Until the early 1980s, MCTs were only available mostly in small quantities contained in butter, coconut oil, and other natural sources. However, Dr. Vigen K. Babayan of the Nutrition Laboratory, Harvard University, developed a process to produce them in large quantities, to be used primarily for therapeutic and dietary uses.
MCTs provide about 10% fewer calories than LCTs – 8.3 calories per gram for MCTs versus 9 calories per gram for LCTs. But this is just one of the unique advantages of MCTs. More importantly, reduced chain length also means that MCTs are more rapidly absorbed by the body and more quickly metabolized (burned) as fuel, without requiring the presence of carnitine, which LCTs (Long-chain Fatty Acids) do. The result of this accelerated metabolic conversion is that instead of being stored as fat, the calories contained in MCTs are very efficiently converted into fuel for immediate use by organs, like the brain, and muscles.
One of the reasons MCTs enhance energy is because they cross the double mitochondrial membrane very easily, and do not require the presence of carnitine, which LCTs do. The result is an excess of acetyl-coA, which then follows various metabolic pathways, both in the mitochondria (Krebs Cycle) and in the cytosol, resulting in the production of ketones. Scientists attribute the increased energy from consumption of MCTs to the rapid formation of ketone bodies. MCTs are a good choice for anyone who wants to increase energy levels, recover faster following major surgery, aid normal or stunted growth, enhance athletic performance, and to counteract the decreased energy production that results from aging.
In recent years MCTs have gained in popularity with athletes seeking to increase energy levels and enhance endurance during high-intensity exercise, as well as serving as an alternative energy source for athletes on high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets.
Traditionally, it has been used to:
Treat Alzheimer's Brain Energy, Health, & Weakness
Ketones from MCT compensate for the brain glucose deficiency in Alzheimer's patients in direct proportion to the level of plasma ketones achieved. Brain ketone consumption doubled with MCT supplementation. The slope of the relationship between plasma ketones and brain ketone uptake was the equal to the levels in healthy young adults. MCT increased total brain energy metabolism by increasing ketone supply without affecting brain glucose utilization.
Parkinson's, Huntington's, & Neurological Diseases
Nutritional and metabolic therapeutic strategies have been tried in a wide range of neurologic diseases such as epilepsy, headache, brain trauma, Alzheimer’s disease, sleep disorders, brain cancer, autism, pain, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson's. A study also showed that the administration of the Ketogenic DIet could increase motor capabilities of animals with induced Huntington’s disease. The related incentive for natural dietary strategies possibly originates from the ineffectiveness of available pharmacologic treatments in many of such diseases, as well as a general inclination toward more natural products.
A study on rats showed that the Ketogenic Diet, (MCT Oil induces ketosis and provides sufficient ketones) is significantly effective in promoting motor functions in animals with Parkinson's and at the same time, it may enhance the therapeutic effects of pramipexole (a dopamine enhancing drug used to treat Parkinson's). In another animal study the employment of ketone bodies protected dopaminergic neurons against neurotoxicity located in the substantia nigra (which is responsible for movement and Parkinson's is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.) The early pathophysiology of Parkinson's is an excitotoxic degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons located in the substantia nigra. On the basis of some findings, ketone bodies may bypass defects in mitochondrial Complex I activities, which are possibly involved in the development of Parkinson's. Therefore, it seems that mitochondrial abnormalities play a pivotal role in this regard. In another study the anti-inflammatory effects of ketone bodies were confirmed using a model of MPTP-induced neurotoxicity.
In accordance with these findings, the Ketogenic Diet was able to exert beneficial effects in 5 out of 7 Parkinson's patients.
The two major aspects in treating with the Ketogenic Diet is an increase in the production rate of ketone bodies in the liver and a decrease in serum glucose levels.
Possible mechanisms involved in the effectiveness of the Ketogenic Diet in relieving Parkinson's symptoms could be summarized as follows:
Autism
MCT oil may also help children with autism. One study found positive overall improvements when a ketogenic diet was followed for 6 months. Another study found that adding MCTs to a ketogenic and gluten-free diet substantially improved autistic behaviors for 6 of the 15 children involved. Since autism is a spectrum disorder, MCT can have varying results with different people. This means that adding MCT oil to a diet may help to relieve autistic behaviors or may show no positive effect at all, but it doesn't hurt to try!
Epilepsy
Mild ketosis is useful in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy. A study showed an adult patient with drug-resistant epilepsy who experienced a significant daily seizure reduction (96% compared to baseline) after introduction of MCT oil. This improvement occurred in parallel to MCT oil titration over a period of one month. The recurrence of seizures after brief MCT oil discontinuation showed a direct cause and effect relationship rather than a placebo effect. Although, ketosis may not be the primary mechanism responsible the control of seizures. Other explanations include possible stabilization of glucose metabolism, increased CSF amino acids, and other neurotransmitters. The main constituent of MCT oil, caprylic acid, was found to possess acute anticonvulsant properties that may contribute to its mechanism of action
Energy & Exercise Endurance
Studies showed that the exercise performance is significantly decreased in a high temperature environment and body heat can increase greatly during strenuous activities. Subjects fed with an MCT containing diet perform much better compared to a those with a regular diet. More than 2-fold increase in running time was observed under a high temperature environment. This demonstrated a rescue of heat induced deficiency in exercise and possibly skeletal muscle function by MCTs.
Mitochondria are the primary energy source for skeletal muscle contraction. To determine if the increased exercise performance by MCTs could be a result of increased mitochondrial mass and function, the levels of mRNA and protein that are involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and function were evaluated. Gene expression levels of tfam (mitochondrial transcription factor A), a marker of mitochondrial biogenesis, uqcrc (Ubiquinol Cytochrome c Reductase), a respiratory chain protein on complex III, cox5b (Cytochrome c oxidase 5B), the last enzyme in the mitochondrial electron transport chain in complex IV, peroxisome proliferative activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α), a key regulator of energy metabolism and mitochondrial membrane ATP synthase (ATP5α) were significantly upregulated by MCT. There was also a significant increase in protein level of PGC-1α and ATP5α observed. These improved functions indicate that MCTs enhance skeletal muscle function through the induction of mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism under high temperature condition.
Obesity & Weight Loss
In addition to enhancing exercise performance and endurance, the replacement of LCTs with MCTs in the diet can induce reductions in body weight and composition without adversely affecting lipid profiles. Studies have shown that the inclusion of MCT oil in a weight-loss program leads to greater weight loss than does the inclusion of a similar amount of olive oil. Subjects consuming MCT as part of their weight-loss diet lost an average of 1.7 kg more than did subjects consuming olive oil as part of their weight-loss diet. Another study found that women burn ≈45 kcal/d more when consuming MCTs than when consuming LCTs. In addition, other studies have found that subjects consume less calories when meals contain MCT instead of LCT. The addition of an enhanced thermic effect of food and reduced food intake would result in a lower caloric retention.
Reduces Lactate Buildup Reducing Sore Muscles
MCTs can help reduce lactate buildup which converts to lactic acid causing sore muscles after exercise. A study found that athletes who took 6 grams or about 1.5 teaspoons of MCTs with food before cycling had lower lactate levels and found it easier to exercise, compared to those taking LCTs. This data suggests that short-term ingestion of small amounts of MCT suppresses the increase in blood lactate concentration and rating of perceived exertion during moderate-intensity exercise and extends the duration of subsequent high-intensity exercise, at levels higher than those achieved by ingestion of LCT-containing food.
Anxiety & Depression - Mitochondrial Dysfunction
MCTs are converted into ketones and free medium chain fatty acids that, in the brain, are highly effective energy sources to mitochondria and potentially less harmful than glucose metabolism to neurons. Given the recently established link between mitochondrial dysfunction and high anxiety and depression, MCTs exhibited reduced anxiety-like behaviors and enhanced social competitiveness. In diets supplemented with MCT, mitochondrial respiration was reduced in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) while unchanged in the nucleus accumbens. In the mPFC, enzymes related to glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation were also decreased by MCT diet, while proteins controlling glucose and glutamate transport were increased. Altogether, findings strongly suggest the effectiveness of MCT diet to exert anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects. In the brain, effectiveness points to the mPFC as a brain region in which MCT supplementation improves transport and control of energy substrates.
Ketones from MCT compensate for the brain glucose deficiency in Alzheimer's patients in direct proportion to the level of plasma ketones achieved. Brain ketone consumption doubled with MCT supplementation. The slope of the relationship between plasma ketones and brain ketone uptake was the equal to the levels in healthy young adults. MCT increased total brain energy metabolism by increasing ketone supply without affecting brain glucose utilization.
Parkinson's, Huntington's, & Neurological Diseases
Nutritional and metabolic therapeutic strategies have been tried in a wide range of neurologic diseases such as epilepsy, headache, brain trauma, Alzheimer’s disease, sleep disorders, brain cancer, autism, pain, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson's. A study also showed that the administration of the Ketogenic DIet could increase motor capabilities of animals with induced Huntington’s disease. The related incentive for natural dietary strategies possibly originates from the ineffectiveness of available pharmacologic treatments in many of such diseases, as well as a general inclination toward more natural products.
A study on rats showed that the Ketogenic Diet, (MCT Oil induces ketosis and provides sufficient ketones) is significantly effective in promoting motor functions in animals with Parkinson's and at the same time, it may enhance the therapeutic effects of pramipexole (a dopamine enhancing drug used to treat Parkinson's). In another animal study the employment of ketone bodies protected dopaminergic neurons against neurotoxicity located in the substantia nigra (which is responsible for movement and Parkinson's is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.) The early pathophysiology of Parkinson's is an excitotoxic degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons located in the substantia nigra. On the basis of some findings, ketone bodies may bypass defects in mitochondrial Complex I activities, which are possibly involved in the development of Parkinson's. Therefore, it seems that mitochondrial abnormalities play a pivotal role in this regard. In another study the anti-inflammatory effects of ketone bodies were confirmed using a model of MPTP-induced neurotoxicity.
In accordance with these findings, the Ketogenic Diet was able to exert beneficial effects in 5 out of 7 Parkinson's patients.
The two major aspects in treating with the Ketogenic Diet is an increase in the production rate of ketone bodies in the liver and a decrease in serum glucose levels.
Possible mechanisms involved in the effectiveness of the Ketogenic Diet in relieving Parkinson's symptoms could be summarized as follows:
- Providing an efficacious source of energy, which is capable of preventing local hypometabolism in the brain
- Diminished oxidative injury
- Anti-inflammatory effects
- Increasing mitochondrial biogenesis pathways
- Exploiting ketone capacities to bypass a failure in the Complex I activity
Autism
MCT oil may also help children with autism. One study found positive overall improvements when a ketogenic diet was followed for 6 months. Another study found that adding MCTs to a ketogenic and gluten-free diet substantially improved autistic behaviors for 6 of the 15 children involved. Since autism is a spectrum disorder, MCT can have varying results with different people. This means that adding MCT oil to a diet may help to relieve autistic behaviors or may show no positive effect at all, but it doesn't hurt to try!
Epilepsy
Mild ketosis is useful in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy. A study showed an adult patient with drug-resistant epilepsy who experienced a significant daily seizure reduction (96% compared to baseline) after introduction of MCT oil. This improvement occurred in parallel to MCT oil titration over a period of one month. The recurrence of seizures after brief MCT oil discontinuation showed a direct cause and effect relationship rather than a placebo effect. Although, ketosis may not be the primary mechanism responsible the control of seizures. Other explanations include possible stabilization of glucose metabolism, increased CSF amino acids, and other neurotransmitters. The main constituent of MCT oil, caprylic acid, was found to possess acute anticonvulsant properties that may contribute to its mechanism of action
Energy & Exercise Endurance
Studies showed that the exercise performance is significantly decreased in a high temperature environment and body heat can increase greatly during strenuous activities. Subjects fed with an MCT containing diet perform much better compared to a those with a regular diet. More than 2-fold increase in running time was observed under a high temperature environment. This demonstrated a rescue of heat induced deficiency in exercise and possibly skeletal muscle function by MCTs.
Mitochondria are the primary energy source for skeletal muscle contraction. To determine if the increased exercise performance by MCTs could be a result of increased mitochondrial mass and function, the levels of mRNA and protein that are involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and function were evaluated. Gene expression levels of tfam (mitochondrial transcription factor A), a marker of mitochondrial biogenesis, uqcrc (Ubiquinol Cytochrome c Reductase), a respiratory chain protein on complex III, cox5b (Cytochrome c oxidase 5B), the last enzyme in the mitochondrial electron transport chain in complex IV, peroxisome proliferative activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α), a key regulator of energy metabolism and mitochondrial membrane ATP synthase (ATP5α) were significantly upregulated by MCT. There was also a significant increase in protein level of PGC-1α and ATP5α observed. These improved functions indicate that MCTs enhance skeletal muscle function through the induction of mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism under high temperature condition.
Obesity & Weight Loss
In addition to enhancing exercise performance and endurance, the replacement of LCTs with MCTs in the diet can induce reductions in body weight and composition without adversely affecting lipid profiles. Studies have shown that the inclusion of MCT oil in a weight-loss program leads to greater weight loss than does the inclusion of a similar amount of olive oil. Subjects consuming MCT as part of their weight-loss diet lost an average of 1.7 kg more than did subjects consuming olive oil as part of their weight-loss diet. Another study found that women burn ≈45 kcal/d more when consuming MCTs than when consuming LCTs. In addition, other studies have found that subjects consume less calories when meals contain MCT instead of LCT. The addition of an enhanced thermic effect of food and reduced food intake would result in a lower caloric retention.
Reduces Lactate Buildup Reducing Sore Muscles
MCTs can help reduce lactate buildup which converts to lactic acid causing sore muscles after exercise. A study found that athletes who took 6 grams or about 1.5 teaspoons of MCTs with food before cycling had lower lactate levels and found it easier to exercise, compared to those taking LCTs. This data suggests that short-term ingestion of small amounts of MCT suppresses the increase in blood lactate concentration and rating of perceived exertion during moderate-intensity exercise and extends the duration of subsequent high-intensity exercise, at levels higher than those achieved by ingestion of LCT-containing food.
Anxiety & Depression - Mitochondrial Dysfunction
MCTs are converted into ketones and free medium chain fatty acids that, in the brain, are highly effective energy sources to mitochondria and potentially less harmful than glucose metabolism to neurons. Given the recently established link between mitochondrial dysfunction and high anxiety and depression, MCTs exhibited reduced anxiety-like behaviors and enhanced social competitiveness. In diets supplemented with MCT, mitochondrial respiration was reduced in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) while unchanged in the nucleus accumbens. In the mPFC, enzymes related to glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation were also decreased by MCT diet, while proteins controlling glucose and glutamate transport were increased. Altogether, findings strongly suggest the effectiveness of MCT diet to exert anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects. In the brain, effectiveness points to the mPFC as a brain region in which MCT supplementation improves transport and control of energy substrates.
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