Medium chain triglycerides are produced from coconut and palmkernel oil by esterification of fractionated caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid with glycerol. The production process obtains an oil with interesting nutritional properties:
Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) are metabolised in a different way compared to long chain triglycerides (LCT). Long chain fatty acids are reesterified in the intestinal wall and transported as lipoproteins within the body by the lymphatic system.
Due to the sufficient content of proteins and carbohydrates in our diet, most of the ingested lipids are stored in the adipose tissue. Medium chain triglycerides are better digestible compared to normal vegetable oils or animal fats.
After being hydrolysed in the intestine, they are not reesterified but bound to specific albumins and transported via the blood system directly to the liver. These different transportation routes have a sharp line between capric and lauric acid.
Capric and lower chain fatty acids are transported via the portal vein blood, lauric and higher molecular fatty acids via the thoracic duct lymph.
Medium chain fatty acids are partly oxidised in the liver cells but also in muscle cells so they are used as a quick, high concentrated energy source.
Due to their smaller molecular weight, MCT`s can even be adsorbed without being hydrolysed. This property is used since decades for people suffering from fat malabsorption so MCTs are applied in infant formulas, medical and even parentaral nutrition.
Reduced weight gain was reported from animal experiments but recently new studies showed similar effects in humans.
A study, run at the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, in Quebec showed that after 60-90 days of consumption of MCT, there is less body weight gain and decreased size of fat depots than with long chain triglycerides (1).
Another study at the Karl's University in Prague showed that increased MCT supply (and increased energy supply) did not lead to increased weight gain (2).
Krotkiewski in Sweden supplied iso-energetic diets with MCT and LCT to overweight women (Body mass index >30) with significant weight reduce in the MCT group (3).
These studies indicate that medium chain triglycerides may be useful in facilitating weight control if used to replace LCT in the diet.
enquiry no 57
Cognis Deutschland Gmbh is based in Illertissen, Germany. www.cognis.com
References:
(1) J.Nutr.2002, Vol. 132, 329-332.
(2) Unpublished study.
(3) J. of Obesity 2001, Vol. 25, 1393-1400.
