Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) are being explored as a nutritional intervention in Parkinson’s disease (PD) primarily due to their metabolic properties. MCTs are rapidly converted in the liver to ketone bodies, which can serve as an alternative energy source for the brain. In PD, there is evidence of impaired glucose metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction in neuronal cells. Ketone bodies produced from MCTs may help bypass these metabolic deficits by providing neurons with a more efficient fuel source, potentially improving cognitive and motor function. Scientific evidence for the use of MCTs in PD is limited but emerging. A few small clinical studies and pilot trials have investigated the effects of ketogenic diets or MCT supplementation in PD patients. For example, a 2018 randomized controlled trial found that a ketogenic diet improved motor and non-motor symptoms in PD patients compared to a low-fat diet, though the study was small and short-term. Other studies suggest that MCT supplementation may improve energy metabolism and have neuroprotective effects in animal models of PD. However, these findings have not yet been robustly replicated in larger, long-term human trials. At present, while there is a scientific rationale and some preliminary evidence supporting the use of MCTs in PD, the overall quality of evidence is low (rated 2/5), and more research is needed to establish efficacy and safety.

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