No differences were seen in blood lipid levels .
Replacement of LCTs with MCTs in the diet could potentially induce modest reductions in body weight and composition without adversely affecting lipid profiles .
BACKGROUND Medium-chain triglycerides ( MCTs ) may result in negative energy balance and weight loss through increased energy expenditure and lipid oxidation .
However , results from human intervention studies investigating the weight reducing potential of MCTs , have been mixed .
OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review and meta- analysis of r and omized controlled trials comparing the effects of MCTs , specifically C8:0 and C10:0 , to long-chain triglycerides ( LCTs )  on weight loss and body composition in adults .
Dietary medium-chain triacylglycerols suppress accumulation of body fat in a double-blind, controlled trial in healthy men and women.
We investigated the effect of long-term ingestion of dietary medium-chain triacylglycerols ( MCT ) on body weight and fat in humans . Using a double-blind , controlled protocol , we assessed the potential health benefits of MCT compared with long-chain triacylglycerols ( LCT ) in 78 healthy men and women [ body mass index ( BMI ) > or = 23 kg/m(2 ) : n = 26 ( MCT ) , n = 30 ( LCT ) ; BMI < 23 kg/m(2 ) : n = 15 ( MCT ) , n = 7 ( LCT ) ] . Changes in anthropometric variables , body weight and body fat during the 12-wk MCT treatment period were compared with those in subjects consuming the LCT diet . The subjects were asked to consume 9218 kJ/d and 60 g/d of total fat . The energy , fat , protein and carbohydrate intakes did not differ significantly between the groups . Body weight and body fat in both groups had decreased by wk 4 , 8 and 12 of the study . However , in the subjects with BMI > or = 23 kg/m(2 ) , the extent of the decrease in body weight was significantly greater in the MCT group than in the LCT group . In subjects with BMI > or = 23 kg/m(2 ) , the loss of body fat in the MCT group ( -3.86 + /- 0.3 kg ) was significantly greater than that in the LCT group ( -2.75 + /- 0.2 kg ) at 8 wk . In addition , in subjects with BMI > or = 23 kg/m(2 ) , the decrease in the area of subcutaneous fat in the MCT group was significantly greater than that in the LCT group at wk 4 , 8 and 12 . These results suggest that the MCT diet may reduce body weight and fat in individuals ( BMI > or = 23 kg/m(2 ) ) more than the LCT diet
No differences were seen in blood lipid levels .
Replacement of LCTs with MCTs in the diet could potentially induce modest reductions in body weight and composition without adversely affecting lipid profiles .
BACKGROUND Medium-chain triglycerides ( MCTs ) may result in negative energy balance and weight loss through increased energy expenditure and lipid oxidation .
However , results from human intervention studies investigating the weight reducing potential of MCTs , have been mixed .
OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review and meta- analysis of r and omized controlled trials comparing the effects of MCTs , specifically C8:0 and C10:0 , to long-chain triglycerides ( LCTs )  on weight loss and body composition in adults .