Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) (Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides)

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Other names for medium chain triglycerides (MCT)

MCT Oil
Medium Chain Fatty Acids
Fractionated Coconut Oil

Synopsis of medium chain triglycerides (MCT)

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are a class of dietary fats composed of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) with carbon chain lengths typically between 6 and 12 atoms. The most common MCTs are caproic acid (C6), caprylic acid (C8), capric acid (C10), and lauric acid (C12). They are naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, dairy fat, and certain human breast milk components. MCTs are unique in how the body processes them—rapidly absorbed and metabolized by the liver for quick energy, rather than stored as fat.

Because of their fast conversion to ketones, MCTs are a central part of ketogenic and low-carbohydrate dietary strategies. They provide an efficient energy source for the brain and muscles, support fat metabolism, and can help regulate appetite and satiety hormones like ghrelin. Unlike long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), MCTs do not require bile salts for digestion and are transported directly via the portal vein to the liver, making them especially beneficial for individuals with malabsorption issues, pancreatic insufficiency, or liver disease.

In clinical nutrition, MCT oil is used in formulas for patients with digestive disorders, epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, and cachexia. It also appears in sports nutrition, weight management, and nootropic supplements, where it supports mental clarity, energy, and endurance without a blood sugar spike.

Common forms of supplementation include pure MCT oil, MCT powders, and blended formulas often containing caprylic (C8) and capric acid (C10) for their quick energy profile. Lauric acid (C12) is sometimes debated as a true MCT due to its slower metabolism.

Historical Use
While the concept of "MCTs" is relatively modern—first studied in the 1950s and commercialized in the 1960s—their natural dietary sources have been used medicinally for centuries. Coconut oil, for example, has been a staple in traditional diets of Polynesian, Indian, and Southeast Asian cultures for centuries, used for energy, immune support, digestion, and skin health. Though people were unaware of the specific chemical makeup, the light, easy-to-digest fats in coconut were favored for treating weakness, malnutrition, and intestinal infections.

In Ayurveda, coconut oil was viewed as cooling and nourishing, used internally and externally for promoting vitality and calming inflammation. Traditional healers in the Pacific Islands used coconut meat and oil as a daily tonic and remedy for gut issues, wounds, and fatigue.

The isolated concept of MCTs emerged with research into alternative energy sources for patients who could not tolerate long-chain fats. In the 20th century, MCTs became an essential part of clinical nutrition formulas, particularly for patients with fat malabsorption, surgical recovery, or neurological disorders. Their role expanded in the 1990s and 2000s with the rise of ketogenic diets for epilepsy, where MCT oil helped maintain ketosis more efficiently than dietary fat alone.

Today, MCTs are a mainstream supplement in both therapeutic and performance nutrition, praised for their ability to support cognitive function, metabolism, and digestive health, and for their alignment with low-carb and intermittent fasting protocols.

Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) is used for these health conditions

Alzheimer's Disease (Scientific)
Autism (Scientific)
Cancer (natural therapy for) (Scientific)
Cancer (prevention) (Scientific)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects) (Scientific)
Cholesterol (high) (Scientific)
Diabetes (Scientific)
Energy (lack of) (Scientific)
Fat Metabolism (poor) (Scientific)
Fatty Liver Disease (Scientific)
Inflammation (Scientific)
Memory and Brain Function (Scientific)
Metabolic Syndrome (Scientific)
Nerve Damage (Scientific)
Parkinson's Disease (Scientific)
Wasting (Scientific)
Weight Loss (Scientific)

medium chain triglycerides (MCT) is used to support these body systems

Brain (Scientific)
Digestive System (Scientific)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Scientific)
Immune System (Scientific)
Liver (Scientific)
Mitochondria (Scientific)
Small Intestines (Scientific)