Do medium-chain triglycerides improve epilepsy or cancer?

Some preclinical studies have shown that octanoic acid and decanoic acid can have antiseizure and neuroprotective properties in rodent models of epilepsy.^[1][2] Other preclinical studies in rodents and in vitro experiments have shown that lauric acid can inhibit tumor growth and prevent muscle atrophy in models of cancer.^[3][4] However, these effects on epilepsy and cancer have not been demonstrated clinically. In humans, observational studies have found that a greater dietary intake of lauric acid (a.k.a. dodecanoic acid) is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer.^[5] Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether this association is causal.