What Are Medium Chain Triglycerides Food For?
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) are a type of fat that get their name from their chemical structure. They contain fatty acid chains with six to 10 carbon atoms, which is fewer than are contained in long chain triglycerides. Because of the difference in their chemical structure, the two types of fats are metabolized very differently. MCT are more water soluble and are less prone to storage in adipose tissue. They are also more readily used by the muscles during exercise and they are even more satiating than long chain fats. In fact, MCT's are among the most satiating of all fats. Researchers have studied the effect of MCT on both exercise performance and body weight/body composition. In a new review, researchers from Oxford University analyzed past studies on these uses of MCT and concluded, "From a health perspective, MCT increase fat oxidation and energy expenditure as well as reduce food intake and beneficially alter body composition. Results indicate that MCT feeding is ineffective in improving exercise performance and future work should focus on the health benefits and applications of MCT."
