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Medium-chain triglyceride

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Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are medium-chain (8 to 12 carbons) fatty acid esters of glycerol.

MCTs passively diffuse from the GI tract to the portal system (longer fatty acids are absorbed into the lymphatic system) without requirement for modification like long-chain fatty acids or very-long-chain fatty acids. In addition, MCTs do not require bile salts for digestion. Patients that have malnutrition or malabsorption syndromes are treated with MCTs because they do not require energy for absorption, utilization, or storage.

Rich sources of MCTs include palm kernel oil, coconut oil and camphor tree drupes.

The fatty acids found in MCTs are called medium-chain fatty acids. The names of the medium-chain fatty acids (and the corresponding number of carbons) found in MCTs are caprylic acid (C8), capric acid (C10) and lauric acid (C12). Like all triglycerides (fats and oils), MCTs are composed of a glycerol backbone and three fatty acids, hence the name triglyceride; in the case of MCTs, 2 or 3 of the fatty acid chains attached to glycerol are medium chain in length.

Dietary relevance

The milk fats of humans and guinea pigs are largely made up of long-chain fatty acids. The milk fats of cows, sheep, and goats are rich in short-chain fatty acids. The milk fats of horses contain large amounts of medium-chain fatty acids.[1]

Some studies have shown that MCTs can help in the process of excess calorie burning, and thus weight loss.[2][3][4][5][6][7] MCTs are also seen as promoting fat oxidation and reduced food intake.[8] There has also been interest in MCTs from endurance athletes and the bodybuilding community.[9] While there seem to be health benefits from MCTs, a link to improved exercise performance is weak.[8]

Medical uses

Medium-chain triglycerides are generally considered a good biologically inert source of energy that the human body finds reasonably easy to metabolize. They have potentially beneficial attributes in protein metabolism but may be contraindicated in some situations due to their tendency to induce ketogenesis and metabolic acidosis.[10]

Due to their ability to be absorbed rapidly by the body, medium-chain triglycerides have found use in the treatment of a variety of malabsorption ailments. MCT supplementation with a low-fat diet has been described as the cornerstone of treatment for primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (Waldmann's disease).[11] MCTs are an ingredient in parenteral nutritional emulsions.[12][13] Studies have also shown promising results for neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease)[14] and epilepsy through the use of ketogenic dieting.[15][16]

Serum high-density lipoprotein is increasingly elevated as the chain-length of triglyceride decreases.[17]

Technical uses

MCTs are bland compared to other fats, and do not generate off-notes (dissonant tastes) as quickly as LCTs. They are also more polar than LCTs. Because of these attributes, they are widely used as solvents for flavours and oral medicines and vitamins.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ Breckenridge, W. C.; Kuksis, A. (September 1967). "Molecular weight distributions of milk fat triglycerides from seven species". Journal of Lipid Research. 8 (5): 473.
  2. ^ M-P. St-Onge, P.J.H. Jones (2003). "Greater rise in fat oxidation with medium-chain triglyceride consumption relative to long-chain triglyceride is associated with lower initial body weight and greater loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue". International Journal of Obesity. 27 (12): 1565–1571. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802467. PMID 12975635.
  3. ^ H. Tsuji, M. Kasai, H. Takeuchi, M. Nakamura, M. Okazaki, K. Kondo (2001). "Dietary Medium-Chain Triacylglycerols Suppress Accumulation of Body Fat in a Double-Blind, Controlled Trial in Healthy Men and Women". The American Society for Nutritional Sciences. 131: 2853–2859. PMID 11694608.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ B. Martena, M. Pfeuffer, J. Schrezenmeir (2006). "Medium-chain triglycerides". International Dairy Journal. 16 (11): 1374–1382. doi:10.1016/j.idairyj.2006.06.015.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 18296368, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=18296368 instead.
  6. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 11880549, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=11880549 instead.
  7. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 9570335, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=9570335 instead.
  8. ^ a b Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 20367215, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=20367215 instead.
  9. ^ Talbott, Shawn M. and Kerry Hughes. (2006). The Health Professional's Guide to Dietary Supplements. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 60–63. ISBN 978-0-7817-4672-4.
  10. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 15544546, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=15544546 instead.
  11. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 18294365, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=18294365 instead.
  12. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 16804134, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=16804134 instead.
  13. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 16607135, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=16607135 instead.
  14. ^ Stafstrom CE, Rho JM (2012). "The ketogenic diet as a treatment paradigm for diverse neurological disorders". FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY. 3: Article 59. doi:10.3389/fphar.2012.00059. PMC 3321471. PMID 22509165.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  15. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 20487176, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=20487176 instead.
  16. ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 19049583 , please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=19049583 instead.
  17. ^ Mensink RP, Zock PL, Kester AD, Katan MB (2003). "Effects of dietary fatty acids and carbohydrates on the ratio of serum total to HDL cholesterol and on serum lipids and apolipoproteins: a meta-analysis of 60 controlled trials". The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 77 (5): 11461155. PMID 12716665.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Akoh, Casimir C. (2006). Handbook of Functional Lipids. Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-8493-2162-X.

Further reading

  • Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 19931617, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=19931617 instead.
  • Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 17878693, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=17878693 instead.
  • Bach André C., Babayan Vigen K (1982). "Medium-chain triglycerides: an update" (PDF). The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 36 (5): 950–962. PMID 6814231.
  • Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 3112486, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=3112486 instead.
  • Heydinger, Jenifer A., Dilip K. Nakhasi (1996). "Medium Chain Triacylglycerols". Journal of Food Lipids. 3 (4): 251–257. doi:10.1111/j.1745-4522.1996.tb00072.x.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Kaunitz, H. (1986). "Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) in aging and arteriosclerosis". Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology. 6 (3–4): 115–121. PMID 3519928.
  • Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 18253821, please use {{cite journal}} with |pmid=18253821 instead.
  • Medium chain triglycerides - Monograph[dead link]. (October 2002). Alternative Medicine Review. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
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