Medium-chain Triglycerides

Last Updated: September 28 2022

Medium-chain triglycerides are a type of saturated fat composed of fatty acids with 6–10 carbons in their acyl chain. They are found primarily in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and dairy fat, and they appear to benefit fat loss to a minor extent when consumed in place of other dietary fat.

Medium-chain Triglycerides is most often used for

What else is Medium-chain Triglycerides known as?
Note that Medium-chain Triglycerides is also known as:
  • MCTs
  • MCT oil
  • medium-chain fatty acids
Medium-chain Triglycerides should not be confused with:
  • coconut oil
Examine Database: Medium-chain Triglycerides
What works and what doesn't?

Unlock the full potential of Examine

Get started

Don't miss out on the latest research

References
3.^Sigalet DL, Winkelaar GB, Smith LJDetermination of the route of medium-chain and long-chain fatty acid absorption by direct measurement in the ratJPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr.(1997 Sep-Oct)
5.^Bach AC, Babayan VKMedium-chain triglycerides: an updateAm J Clin Nutr.(1982 Nov)
7.^Mu H, Porsgaard TThe metabolism of structured triacylglycerolsProg Lipid Res.(2005 Nov)
9.^McLaughlin J, Grazia Lucà M, Jones MN, D'Amato M, Dockray GJ, Thompson DGFatty acid chain length determines cholecystokinin secretion and effect on human gastric motilityGastroenterology.(1999 Jan)
10.^Symersky T, Vu MK, Frölich M, Biemond I, Masclee AAThe effect of equicaloric medium-chain and long-chain triglycerides on pancreas enzyme secretionClin Physiol Funct Imaging.(2002 Sep)
12.^Iber FLRelative rates of metabolism MCT, LCT and ethanol in manZ Ernahrungswiss Suppl.(1974)
13.^Borel P, Tyssandier V, Mekki N, Grolier P, Rochette Y, Alexandre-Gouabau MC, Lairon D, Azaïs-Braesco VChylomicron beta-carotene and retinyl palmitate responses are dramatically diminished when men ingest beta-carotene with medium-chain rather than long-chain triglyceridesJ Nutr.(1998 Aug)
14.^Swift LL, Hill JO, Peters JC, Greene HLMedium-chain fatty acids: evidence for incorporation into chylomicron triglycerides in humansAm J Clin Nutr.(1990 Nov)
15.^Rubio-Gozalbo ME, Bakker JA, Waterham HR, Wanders RJCarnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency, clinical, biochemical and genetic aspectsMol Aspects Med.(2004 Oct-Dec)
17.^Bach AOxaloacetate deficiency in MCT-induced ketogenesisArch Int Physiol Biochim.(1978 Dec)
18.^McGarry JD, Foster DWRegulation of hepatic fatty acid oxidation and ketone body productionAnnu Rev Biochem.(1980)
20.^Bach A, Schirardin H, Weryha A, Bauer MKetogenic response to medium-chain triglyceride load in the ratJ Nutr.(1977 Oct)
22.^Vandenberghe C, St-Pierre V, Pierotti T, Fortier M, Castellano C, Cunnane STricaprylin alone increases plasma ketone response more than coconut oil or other medium chain triglycerides: an acute crossover study in healthy adultsCurr Dev Nutr.(2017 Mar)
24.^Chang P, Augustin K, Boddum K, Williams S, Sun M, Terschak JA, Hardege JD, Chen PE, Walker MC, Williams RSSeizure control by decanoic acid through direct AMPA receptor inhibitionBrain.(2016 Feb)
26.^Rolls BJ, Gnizak N, Summerfelt A, Laster LJFood intake in dieters and nondieters after a liquid meal containing medium-chain triglyceridesAm J Clin Nutr.(1988 Jul)
27.^St-Onge MP, Mayrsohn B, O'Keeffe M, Kissileff HR, Choudhury AR, Laferrère BImpact of medium and long chain triglycerides consumption on appetite and food intake in overweight menEur J Clin Nutr.(2014 Oct)
28.^Van Wymelbeke V, Himaya A, Louis-Sylvestre J, Fantino MInfluence of medium-chain and long-chain triacylglycerols on the control of food intake in menAm J Clin Nutr.(1998 Aug)
30.^Krotkiewski MValue of VLCD supplementation with medium chain triglyceridesInt J Obes Relat Metab Disord.(2001 Sep)
32.^Martin K, Jackson CF, Levy RG, Cooper PNKetogenic diet and other dietary treatments for epilepsyCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2016 Feb 9)
33.^Lima PA, Sampaio LP, Damasceno NRNeurobiochemical mechanisms of a ketogenic diet in refractory epilepsyClinics (Sao Paulo).(2014 Dec)
35.^Groleau V, Schall JI, Stallings VA, Bergqvist CALong-term impact of the ketogenic diet on growth and resting energy expenditure in children with intractable epilepsyDev Med Child Neurol.(2014 Sep)
36.^Bergqvist AG, Schall JI, Stallings VA, Zemel BSProgressive bone mineral content loss in children with intractable epilepsy treated with the ketogenic dietAm J Clin Nutr.(2008 Dec)
37.^Huttenlocher PR, Wilbourn AJ, Signore JMMedium-chain triglycerides as a therapy for intractable childhood epilepsyNeurology.(1971 Nov)
40.^Sills MA, Forsythe WI, Haidukewych D, MacDonald A, Robinson MThe medium chain triglyceride diet and intractable epilepsyArch Dis Child.(1986 Dec)
41.^Schwartz RH, Eaton J, Bower BD, Aynsley-Green AKetogenic diets in the treatment of epilepsy: short-term clinical effectsDev Med Child Neurol.(1989 Apr)
42.^Schwartz RM, Boyes S, Aynsley-Green AMetabolic effects of three ketogenic diets in the treatment of severe epilepsyDev Med Child Neurol.(1989 Apr)
45.^Neal EG, Chaffe HM, Edwards N, Lawson MS, Schwartz RH, Cross JHGrowth of children on classical and medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic dietsPediatrics.(2008 Aug)
46.^Neal EG, Chaffe H, Schwartz RH, Lawson MS, Edwards N, Fitzsimmons G, Whitney A, Cross JHA randomized trial of classical and medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic diets in the treatment of childhood epilepsyEpilepsia.(2009 May)
47.^Azzam R, Azar NJMarked Seizure Reduction after MCT SupplementationCase Rep Neurol Med.(2013)
48.^Reger MA, Henderson ST, Hale C, Cholerton B, Baker LD, Watson GS, Hyde K, Chapman D, Craft SEffects of beta-hydroxybutyrate on cognition in memory-impaired adultsNeurobiol Aging.(2004 Mar)
49.^Henderson ST, Vogel JL, Barr LJ, Garvin F, Jones JJ, Costantini LCStudy of the ketogenic agent AC-1202 in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trialNutr Metab (Lond).(2009 Aug 10)
51.^Cunnane SC, Courchesne-Loyer A, Vandenberghe C, St-Pierre V, Fortier M, Hennebelle M, Croteau E, Bocti C, Fulop T, Castellano CACan Ketones Help Rescue Brain Fuel Supply in Later Life? Implications for Cognitive Health during Aging and the Treatment of Alzheimer's DiseaseFront Mol Neurosci.(2016 Jul 8)
56.^Hill JO, Peters JC, Swift LL, Yang D, Sharp T, Abumrad N, Greene HLChanges in blood lipids during six days of overfeeding with medium or long chain triglyceridesJ Lipid Res.(1990 Mar)
57.^HASHIM SA, ARTEAGA A, VAN ITALLIE TBEffect of a saturated medium-chain triglyceride on serum-lipids in manLancet.(1960 May 21)
59.^Tremblay AJ, Lamarche B, Labonté MÈ, Lépine MC, Lemelin V, Couture PDietary medium-chain triglyceride supplementation has no effect on apolipoprotein B-48 and apolipoprotein B-100 kinetics in insulin-resistant menAm J Clin Nutr.(2014 Jan)
60.^van Schalkwijk DB, Pasman WJ, Hendriks HF, Verheij ER, Rubingh CM, van Bochove K, Vaes WH, Adiels M, Freidig AP, de Graaf AADietary medium chain fatty acid supplementation leads to reduced VLDL lipolysis and uptake rates in comparison to linoleic acid supplementationPLoS One.(2014 Jul 21)
62.^Kasai M, Nosaka N, Maki H, Negishi S, Aoyama T, Nakamura M, Suzuki Y, Tsuji H, Uto H, Okazaki M, Kondo KEffect of dietary medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCT) on accumulation of body fat in healthy humansAsia Pac J Clin Nutr.(2003)
63.^Xue C, Liu Y, Wang J, Zhang R, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Zheng Z, Yu X, Jing H, Nosaka N, Arai C, Kasai M, Aoyama T, Wu JConsumption of medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols decreases body fat and blood triglyceride in Chinese hypertriglyceridemic subjectsEur J Clin Nutr.(2009 Jul)
64.^Zhang YH, Liu YH, Zheng ZX, Wang J, Zhang Y, Zhang RX, Yu XM, Jing HJ, Xue CY, Wu JMedium- and long-chain fatty acid triacylglycerol reduce body fat and serum triglyceride in overweight and hypertriglyceridemic subjectsZhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi.(2009 Sep)
65.^Liu Y, Wang J, Zhang R, Zhang Y, Xu Q, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Zheng Z, Yu X, Jing H, Nosaka N, Kasai M, Aoyama T, Wu J, Xue CA good response to oil with medium- and long-chain fatty acids in body fat and blood lipid profiles of male hypertriglyceridemic subjectsAsia Pac J Clin Nutr.(2009)
67.^Zhang Y, Liu Y, Wang J, Zhang R, Jing H, Yu X, Zhang Y, Xu Q, Zhang J, Zheng Z, Nosaka N, Arai C, Kasai M, Aoyama T, Wu J, Xue CMedium- and long-chain triacylglycerols reduce body fat and blood triacylglycerols in hypertriacylglycerolemic, overweight but not obese, Chinese individualsLipids.(2010 Jun)
68.^Asakura L, Lottenberg AM, Neves MQ, Nunes VS, Rocha JC, Passarelli M, Nakandakare ER, Quintão ECDietary medium-chain triacylglycerol prevents the postprandial rise of plasma triacylglycerols but induces hypercholesterolemia in primary hypertriglyceridemic subjectsAm J Clin Nutr.(2000 Mar)
70.^UZAWA H, SCHLIERF G, CHIRMAN S, MICHAELS G, WOOD P, KINSELL LWHYPERGLYCERIDEMIA RESULTING FROM INTAKE OF MEDIUM CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDESAm J Clin Nutr.(1964 Dec)
71.^Eckel RH, Hanson AS, Chen AY, Berman JN, Yost TJ, Brass EPDietary substitution of medium-chain triglycerides improves insulin-mediated glucose metabolism in NIDDM subjectsDiabetes.(1992 May)
72.^Airhart S, Cade WT, Jiang H, Coggan AR, Racette SB, Korenblat K, Spearie CA, Waller S, O'Connor R, Bashir A, Ory DS, Schaffer JE, Novak E, Farmer M, Waggoner AD, Dávila-Román VG, Javidan-Nejad C, Peterson LRA Diet Rich in Medium-Chain Fatty Acids Improves Systolic Function and Alters the Lipidomic Profile in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot StudyJ Clin Endocrinol Metab.(2016 Feb)
74.^Pi-Sunyer FX, Hashim SA, Van Itallie TBInsulin and ketone responses to ingestion of medium and long-chain triglycerides in manDiabetes.(1969 Feb)
75.^Tamir I, Grant DB, Fosbrooke AS, Segall MM, Lloyd JKEffects of a single oral load of medium-chain triglyceride on serum lipid and insulin levels in manJ Lipid Res.(1968 Sep)
79.^Johnson RC, Young SK, Cotter R, Lin L, Rowe WBMedium-chain-triglyceride lipid emulsion: metabolism and tissue distributionAm J Clin Nutr.(1990 Sep)
80.^Watkins JB, Klein PD, Schoeller DA, Kirschner BS, Park R, Perman JADiagnosis and differentiation of fat malabsorption in children using 13C-labeled lipids: trioctanoin, triolein, and palmitic acid breath testsGastroenterology.(1982 May)
83.^Papamandjaris AA, White MD, Raeini-Sarjaz M, Jones PJEndogenous fat oxidation during medium chain versus long chain triglyceride feeding in healthy womenInt J Obes Relat Metab Disord.(2000 Sep)
84.^Binnert C, Pachiaudi C, Beylot M, Hans D, Vandermander J, Chantre P, Riou JP, Laville MInfluence of human obesity on the metabolic fate of dietary long- and medium-chain triacylglycerolsAm J Clin Nutr.(1998 Apr)
86.^Geliebter A, Torbay N, Bracco EF, Hashim SA, Van Itallie TBOverfeeding with medium-chain triglyceride diet results in diminished deposition of fatAm J Clin Nutr.(1983 Jan)
88.^Crozier G, Bois-Joyeux B, Chanez M, Girard J, Peret JMetabolic effects induced by long-term feeding of medium-chain triglycerides in the ratMetabolism.(1987 Aug)
91.^Krotkiewski MValue of VLCD supplementation with medium chain triglyceridesInt J Obes Relat Metab Disord.(2001 Sep)
92.^Roynette CE, Rudkowska I, Nakhasi DK, Jones PJStructured medium and long chain triglycerides show short-term increases in fat oxidation, but no changes in adiposity in menNutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis.(2008 May)
93.^Assunção ML, Ferreira HS, dos Santos AF, Cabral CR Jr, Florêncio TMEffects of dietary coconut oil on the biochemical and anthropometric profiles of women presenting abdominal obesityLipids.(2009 Jul)
94.^Kasai M, Nosaka N, Maki H, Negishi S, Aoyama T, Nakamura M, Suzuki Y, Tsuji H, Uto H, Okazaki M, Kondo KEffect of dietary medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCT) on accumulation of body fat in healthy humansAsia Pac J Clin Nutr.(2003)
99.^Hawley JA, Brouns F, Jeukendrup AStrategies to enhance fat utilisation during exerciseSports Med.(1998 Apr)
100.^Horowitz JF, Mora-Rodriguez R, Byerley LO, Coyle EFPreexercise medium-chain triglyceride ingestion does not alter muscle glycogen use during exerciseJ Appl Physiol.(2000 Jan)
101.^Misell LM, Lagomarcino ND, Schuster V, Kern MChronic medium-chain triacylglycerol consumption and endurance performance in trained runnersJ Sports Med Phys Fitness.(2001 Jun)
102.^Goedecke JH, Clark VR, Noakes TD, Lambert EVThe effects of medium-chain triacylglycerol and carbohydrate ingestion on ultra-endurance exercise performanceInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2005 Feb)
105.^Harrison JE, McHattie JD, Ligon IR, Jeejeebhoy KN, Finlay JMEffect of medium chain triglyceride on fecal calcium losses in pancreatic insufficiencyClin Biochem.(1973 Jun)
107.^Traul KA, Driedger A, Ingle DL, Nakhasi DReview of the toxicologic properties of medium-chain triglyceridesFood Chem Toxicol.(2000 Jan)
108.^Nair AB, Jacob SA simple practice guide for dose conversion between animals and humanJ Basic Clin Pharm.(2016 Mar)