Difference between revisions of "MCT"

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Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) are fats that are shorter in length than most normal dietary fats (Long Chain Triglycerides or LCTs). MCTs are found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil and butter.  
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Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) are fats that are shorter in length than most normal dietary fats (Long Chain Triglycerides or LCTs). MCTs are found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil and butter, as well as being available in pure form. MCT produces [[Ketones]] even without being part of a [[Low Carbohydrate Diets| Low Carbohydrate Diet]].
 
{{Skeleton}}
 
{{Skeleton}}
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=MCT digestion and the Ketogenic Diet=
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=MCT and the Ketogenic Diet=
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* MCT produces [[Ketones]] even without being part of a [[Low Carbohydrate Diets| Low Carbohydrate Diet]].
+
Because MCT will increase [[Ketones|Ketone Levels]] without needing [[Low Carbohydrate Diets| Carbohydrate restriction]], they are often used for [[Ketogenic Diets for Epilepsy| epilepsy treatment]]. Small amounts of MCT can be used to increase the ketone levels, or to reduce elevated cholesterol levels while on the Ketogenic Diet<ref name="Kossoff-2011-1809"/>. Larger amounts of MCT are the basis of the [[MCT Diet]], which allow for a greater carbohydrate intake than the traditional [[Ketogenic Ratio Diet]] and therefore more food choices.
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* Often used as part of a [[Ketogenic Diet]]  
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=MCT and Ketone Levels=
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* Basis of the [[MCT Diet]]
+
A study showed that giving 40ml of MCT raised blood BOHB levels to 0.43-0.68 mM<ref name="RegerHenderson2004"/>. Unfortunately there were no details on how long the levels remained elevated, or how larger doses might further increase ketone levels.
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* MCT is sometimes recommended to reduce elevated cholesterol levels while on the Ketogenic Diet<ref name="Kossoff-2011-1809"/>.
+
=MCT and Weight Gain=
 +
An animal study has shown that overfeeding that includes large quantities of MCT produced 20% less weight gain than the same level of overfeeding with LCT<ref name="Geliebter-1983"/>. The rats were fed a diet of 50% of calories as fat, with the MCT diet providing 45% of calories from MCT. The rats had similar levels of activity and insulin. This may because MCTs are raise body temperature (thermogenesis)<ref name="Mascioli-1991"/>. MCT has is often considered to have a slightly lower calorie density of 8.3 Calories/gram compared with 9.1 Calories/gram for LCT<ref name="IngleDriedger1999"/>. However, if thermogenesis is taken into account, a value of 6.72 Calories/gram would be more appropriate<ref name="IngleDriedger1999"/>.
 +
=MCT and digestive distress=
 +
MCT frequently causes digestive problems, including nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. There may be several factors that influence the level of digestive distress<ref name="WolinskyDriskell2004"/>:
 +
* '''Quantity'''. Higher quantities of MCT are more likely to cause digestive distress. One study found that 50g of MCT caused all subjects digestive problems, but 30g only caused problems in 10% of subjects.
 +
* '''Adaptation'''. There is adaptation that occurs with consumption of MCT over several days. Two studies showed a reduction in digestive distress over time; in one, subjects were given 34g/day for 7 days and the other, 60g/day for 14 days. By the end the subjects' distress had reduced or disappeared.
 +
* '''Other Foods'''. Consuming MCT with other foods reduces the digestive distress.
 +
Personally, I found that even after weeks of taking MCT, I could not consume it on its own without incurring dramatic digestive problems. Mixing MCT with other foods greatly reduced, but did not completely remove, the issues.
 +
=MCT and Alzheimer's=
 +
There is evidence that MCT can help reduce peoples' memory impairment without carbohydrate restriction<ref name="RegerHenderson2004"/>. A study using elderly dogs showed a long lasting improvement in cognitive ability with MCT supplementation<ref name="PanLarson2010"/>. There are other anecdotal reports of MCT helping with Alzheimer's symptoms<ref name="www.tampabay.com"/>.
 
=Types of MCT=
 
=Types of MCT=
 
The 'medium chain' in 'medium chain triglycerides' refers to the length of the chain carbon atoms. Generally, chain lengths of 6 to 12 carbon atoms (C6 to C12) are considered 'medium'. The most common source of MCTs is in Coconut Oil, and typically pure MCT is refined from Coconut Oil. The mixture of oils in most MCT reflects that of Coconut Oil. MCT oils are fully saturated.
 
The 'medium chain' in 'medium chain triglycerides' refers to the length of the chain carbon atoms. Generally, chain lengths of 6 to 12 carbon atoms (C6 to C12) are considered 'medium'. The most common source of MCTs is in Coconut Oil, and typically pure MCT is refined from Coconut Oil. The mixture of oils in most MCT reflects that of Coconut Oil. MCT oils are fully saturated.
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| 8.3
 
| 8.3
 
|}
 
|}
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=MCT and Weight Gain=
+
=MCT Safety=
−
An animal study has shown that overfeeding that includes large quantities of MCT produced 20% less weight gain than the same level of overfeeding with LCT (Overfeeding with medium-chain triglyceride diet results in diminished deposition of fat). The rats were fed a diet of 50% of calories as fat, with the MCT diet providing 45% of calories from MCT. The rats had similar levels of activity and insulin.
+
MCT is considered safe at 1mg/Kg of body weight, and MCT has been shown as effectively non-toxic in high dose animal studies<ref name="TraulDriedger2000"/>.
−
Read Overfeeding with medium-chain triglyceride diet results in diminished deposition of fat references 8, 16, 17, 18,
 
−
=MCT and digestive distress=
 
−
MCT frequently causes digestive problems, including nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. There may be several factors that influence the level of digestive distress<ref name="WolinskyDriskell2004"/>:
 
−
* '''Quantity'''. Higher quantities of MCT are more likely to cause digestive distress. One study found that 50g of MCT caused all subjects digestive problems, but 30g only caused problems in 10% of subjects.
 
−
* '''Adaptation'''. There is adaptation that occurs with consumption of MCT over several days. Two studies showed a reduction in digestive distress over time; in one, subjects were given 34g/day for 7 days and the other, 60g/day for 14 days. By the end the subjects' distress had reduced or disappeared.
 
−
* '''Other Foods'''. Consuming MCT with other foods reduces the digestive distress.
 
−
Personally, I found that even after weeks of taking MCT, I could not consume it on its own without incurring dramatic digestive problems. However, mixing MCT with other things caused no issues.
 
−
=Calories in MCT=
 
−
MCT has is often considered to have a slightly lower calorie density (8.2 Calories/gram) compared with LCT (9.1 Calories/gram).
 
−
=MCT and Ketosis=
 
−
Giving 40ml of MCT raised blood BOHB levels to 0.43-0.68 mM<ref name="RegerHenderson2004"/>.
 
−
=MCT and Alzheimer's=
 
−
There is evidence that MCT can help reduce peoples' memory impairment without carbohydrate restriction<ref name="RegerHenderson2004"/>. A study using elderly dogs showed a long lasting improvement in cognitive ability with MCT supplementation<ref name="PanLarson2010"/>. There are other anecdotal reports of MCT helping with Alzheimer's symptoms<ref name="www.tampabay.com"/>.
 
 
{{KetoSeeAlso}}
 
{{KetoSeeAlso}}
 
=References=
 
=References=
 
<references>
 
<references>
 +
<ref name="TraulDriedger2000">K.A Traul, A Driedger, D.L Ingle, D Nakhasi, Review of the toxicologic properties of medium-chain triglycerides, Food and Chemical Toxicology, volume 38, issue 1, 2000, pages 79–98, ISSN [http://www.worldcat.org/issn/02786915 02786915], doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0278-6915(99)00106-4 10.1016/S0278-6915(99)00106-4]</ref>
 
<ref name="www.tampabay.com">Doctor says an oil lessened Alzheimer's effects on her husband, http://www.tampabay.com/news/aging/doctor-says-an-oil-lessened-alzheimers-effects-on-her-husband/879333, Accessed on 20 October 2013</ref>
 
<ref name="www.tampabay.com">Doctor says an oil lessened Alzheimer's effects on her husband, http://www.tampabay.com/news/aging/doctor-says-an-oil-lessened-alzheimers-effects-on-her-husband/879333, Accessed on 20 October 2013</ref>
 
<ref name="RegerHenderson2004">Mark A. Reger, Samuel T. Henderson, Cathy Hale, Brenna Cholerton, Laura D. Baker, G.S. Watson, Karen Hyde, Darla Chapman, Suzanne Craft, Effects of β-hydroxybutyrate on cognition in memory-impaired adults, Neurobiology of Aging, volume 25, issue 3, 2004, pages 311–314, ISSN [http://www.worldcat.org/issn/01974580 01974580], doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0197-4580(03)00087-3 10.1016/S0197-4580(03)00087-3]</ref>
 
<ref name="RegerHenderson2004">Mark A. Reger, Samuel T. Henderson, Cathy Hale, Brenna Cholerton, Laura D. Baker, G.S. Watson, Karen Hyde, Darla Chapman, Suzanne Craft, Effects of β-hydroxybutyrate on cognition in memory-impaired adults, Neurobiology of Aging, volume 25, issue 3, 2004, pages 311–314, ISSN [http://www.worldcat.org/issn/01974580 01974580], doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0197-4580(03)00087-3 10.1016/S0197-4580(03)00087-3]</ref>
Line 84: Line 81:
 
<ref name="O'Brien2010">Richard D. O'Brien, Fats and Oils: Formulating and Processing for Applications, Third Edition, date 12 December 2010, publisher Taylor & Francis, isbn 978-1-4200-6167-3, pages 49–</ref>
 
<ref name="O'Brien2010">Richard D. O'Brien, Fats and Oils: Formulating and Processing for Applications, Third Edition, date 12 December 2010, publisher Taylor & Francis, isbn 978-1-4200-6167-3, pages 49–</ref>
 
<ref name="usda">NDL/FNIC Food Composition Database Home Page, http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/, Accessed on 18 November 2013</ref>
 
<ref name="usda">NDL/FNIC Food Composition Database Home Page, http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/, Accessed on 18 November 2013</ref>
 +
<ref name="Geliebter-1983"> A. Geliebter, N. Torbay, EF. Bracco, SA. Hashim, TB. Van Itallie, Overfeeding with medium-chain triglyceride diet results in diminished deposition of fat., Am J Clin Nutr, volume 37, issue 1, pages 1-4, Jan 1983, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6849272 6849272]</ref>
 +
<ref name="Mascioli-1991"> EA. Mascioli, S. Randall, KA. Porter, G. Kater, S. Lopes, VK. Babayan, GL. Blackburn, BR. Bistrian, Thermogenesis from intravenous medium-chain triglycerides., JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, volume 15, issue 1, pages 27-31, PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1901104 1901104]</ref>
 +
<ref name="IngleDriedger1999">D.L. Ingle, A. Driedger, K.A. Traul, D.K. Nakhasi, Dietary Energy Value of Medium-chain Triglycerides, Journal of Food Science, volume 64, issue 6, 1999, pages 960–963, ISSN [http://www.worldcat.org/issn/0022-1147 0022-1147], doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.1999.tb12259.x 10.1111/j.1365-2621.1999.tb12259.x]</ref>
 
<ref name="Kossoff-2011-1809">Eric. Kossoff, [http://www.amazon.com/Ketogenic-Diets-Eric-H-Kossoff/dp/1936303108 Ketogenic diets : treatments for epilepsy and other disorders], date 2011, publisher Demos Health, location New York, isbn 1-936303-10-8, Kindle Offset 1809</ref>
 
<ref name="Kossoff-2011-1809">Eric. Kossoff, [http://www.amazon.com/Ketogenic-Diets-Eric-H-Kossoff/dp/1936303108 Ketogenic diets : treatments for epilepsy and other disorders], date 2011, publisher Demos Health, location New York, isbn 1-936303-10-8, Kindle Offset 1809</ref>
 
</references>
 
</references>

Revision as of 16:28, 22 November 2013

Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) are fats that are shorter in length than most normal dietary fats (Long Chain Triglycerides or LCTs). MCTs are found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil and butter, as well as being available in pure form. MCT produces Ketones even without being part of a Low Carbohydrate Diet.

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This article is under construction.
Caution: This a skeleton article, so only a rough outline exists. This may consist of semi-completed sections, isolated bullet point and notes to the author.
You are welcome to read what exists so far, and feedback is welcomed. Email "feedback <at> fellrnr <dot> com"

1 MCT and the Ketogenic Diet

Because MCT will increase Ketone Levels without needing Carbohydrate restriction, they are often used for epilepsy treatment. Small amounts of MCT can be used to increase the ketone levels, or to reduce elevated cholesterol levels while on the Ketogenic Diet[1]. Larger amounts of MCT are the basis of the MCT Diet, which allow for a greater carbohydrate intake than the traditional Ketogenic Ratio Diet and therefore more food choices.

2 MCT and Ketone Levels

A study showed that giving 40ml of MCT raised blood BOHB levels to 0.43-0.68 mM[2]. Unfortunately there were no details on how long the levels remained elevated, or how larger doses might further increase ketone levels.

3 MCT and Weight Gain

An animal study has shown that overfeeding that includes large quantities of MCT produced 20% less weight gain than the same level of overfeeding with LCT[3]. The rats were fed a diet of 50% of calories as fat, with the MCT diet providing 45% of calories from MCT. The rats had similar levels of activity and insulin. This may because MCTs are raise body temperature (thermogenesis)[4]. MCT has is often considered to have a slightly lower calorie density of 8.3 Calories/gram compared with 9.1 Calories/gram for LCT[5]. However, if thermogenesis is taken into account, a value of 6.72 Calories/gram would be more appropriate[5].

4 MCT and digestive distress

MCT frequently causes digestive problems, including nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. There may be several factors that influence the level of digestive distress[6]:

  • Quantity. Higher quantities of MCT are more likely to cause digestive distress. One study found that 50g of MCT caused all subjects digestive problems, but 30g only caused problems in 10% of subjects.
  • Adaptation. There is adaptation that occurs with consumption of MCT over several days. Two studies showed a reduction in digestive distress over time; in one, subjects were given 34g/day for 7 days and the other, 60g/day for 14 days. By the end the subjects' distress had reduced or disappeared.
  • Other Foods. Consuming MCT with other foods reduces the digestive distress.

Personally, I found that even after weeks of taking MCT, I could not consume it on its own without incurring dramatic digestive problems. Mixing MCT with other foods greatly reduced, but did not completely remove, the issues.

5 MCT and Alzheimer's

There is evidence that MCT can help reduce peoples' memory impairment without carbohydrate restriction[2]. A study using elderly dogs showed a long lasting improvement in cognitive ability with MCT supplementation[7]. There are other anecdotal reports of MCT helping with Alzheimer's symptoms[8].

6 Types of MCT

The 'medium chain' in 'medium chain triglycerides' refers to the length of the chain carbon atoms. Generally, chain lengths of 6 to 12 carbon atoms (C6 to C12) are considered 'medium'. The most common source of MCTs is in Coconut Oil, and typically pure MCT is refined from Coconut Oil. The mixture of oils in most MCT reflects that of Coconut Oil. MCT oils are fully saturated.

6.1 Sources of MCT

The composition of common sources of MCTs is shown below:

Coconut Oil[9]

Palm Kernel Oil[9]

Butter[10]
Fatty Acid Typical % Range % Typical % Range % Typical %
6:0 Caproic 0.5 0.4-0.6 0.2 0.1-0.5 2.0
C8:0 Caprylic 7.8 6.9-9.4 3.3 3.4-5.9 1.2
C10:0 Capric 6.7 6.2-7.8 3.4 3.3-4.4 2.5
C12:0 Lauric 47.5 45.9-50.3 48.2 46.3-51.1 2.6
Total MCT 62.5 59.4-68.1 55.1 53.1-61.9 8.3

7 MCT Safety

MCT is considered safe at 1mg/Kg of body weight, and MCT has been shown as effectively non-toxic in high dose animal studies[11].

8 See Also

9 References

  1. ↑ Eric. Kossoff, Ketogenic diets : treatments for epilepsy and other disorders, date 2011, publisher Demos Health, location New York, isbn 1-936303-10-8, Kindle Offset 1809
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mark A. Reger, Samuel T. Henderson, Cathy Hale, Brenna Cholerton, Laura D. Baker, G.S. Watson, Karen Hyde, Darla Chapman, Suzanne Craft, Effects of β-hydroxybutyrate on cognition in memory-impaired adults, Neurobiology of Aging, volume 25, issue 3, 2004, pages 311–314, ISSN 01974580, doi 10.1016/S0197-4580(03)00087-3
  3. ↑ A. Geliebter, N. Torbay, EF. Bracco, SA. Hashim, TB. Van Itallie, Overfeeding with medium-chain triglyceride diet results in diminished deposition of fat., Am J Clin Nutr, volume 37, issue 1, pages 1-4, Jan 1983, PMID 6849272
  4. ↑ EA. Mascioli, S. Randall, KA. Porter, G. Kater, S. Lopes, VK. Babayan, GL. Blackburn, BR. Bistrian, Thermogenesis from intravenous medium-chain triglycerides., JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, volume 15, issue 1, pages 27-31, PMID 1901104
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 D.L. Ingle, A. Driedger, K.A. Traul, D.K. Nakhasi, Dietary Energy Value of Medium-chain Triglycerides, Journal of Food Science, volume 64, issue 6, 1999, pages 960–963, ISSN 0022-1147, doi 10.1111/j.1365-2621.1999.tb12259.x
  6. ↑ Ira Wolinsky !!author1!!, Judy A. Driskell !!author2!!, Nutritional Ergogenic Aids, date 25 June 2004, publisher Taylor & Francis, isbn 978-0-203-50770-4, pages 196–
  7. ↑ Yuanlong Pan, Brian Larson, Joseph A. Araujo, Winnie Lau, Christina de Rivera, Ruben Santana, Asa Gore, Norton W. Milgram, Dietary supplementation with medium-chain TAG has long-lasting cognition-enhancing effects in aged dogs, British Journal of Nutrition, volume 103, issue 12, 2010, pages 1746–1754, ISSN 0007-1145, doi 10.1017/S0007114510000097
  8. ↑ Doctor says an oil lessened Alzheimer's effects on her husband, http://www.tampabay.com/news/aging/doctor-says-an-oil-lessened-alzheimers-effects-on-her-husband/879333, Accessed on 20 October 2013
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Richard D. O'Brien, Fats and Oils: Formulating and Processing for Applications, Third Edition, date 12 December 2010, publisher Taylor & Francis, isbn 978-1-4200-6167-3, pages 49–
  10. ↑ NDL/FNIC Food Composition Database Home Page, http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/, Accessed on 18 November 2013
  11. ↑ K.A Traul, A Driedger, D.L Ingle, D Nakhasi, Review of the toxicologic properties of medium-chain triglycerides, Food and Chemical Toxicology, volume 38, issue 1, 2000, pages 79–98, ISSN 02786915, doi 10.1016/S0278-6915(99)00106-4
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