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 .
[The role of oils containing triacylglycerols and medium-chain fatty acids in the dietary treatment of obesity. The effect on resting energy expenditure and serum lipids].
BACKGROUND Treatment of obesity with strict reducing diets is as a rule associated with the development of energetic efficiency manifested among others also by a decline of energy expenditure . The objective of the trial was to test whether addition of oils containing triacylglycerols with medium-chain fatty acid can prevent this decline and whether their administration can affect the lipid spectrum . METHODS AND RESULTS Sixty obese patients were served for a four-week period of hospitalization at the obesitology unit a low-energy diet REDITA  ( Promil Co. , N. Bydzov ) providing 1596 kJ , 37 g protein , 50 g carbohydrate and 3 g fat . Part of the treatment was regular aerobic exercise , behavioural therapy to teach correct dietary habits and physical activity ; physical activity was monitored by means of pedometers . From this group during the 3rd and 4th week 11 patients with similar characteristics were separated ( age , body weight , BMI and energy expenditure at rest ) as in the basic group . These patients were given daily 15 ml oil containing triacylglycerols with medium-chain fatty acids , MCT OIL ( Mead Johnson , Evansville ) , providing 545 kJ. The resting energy expenditure was assessed in all patients every morning on fasting , immediately after awakening , using indirect calorimetry and it was corrected with regard to the respiratory quotient and excretion of catabolic nitrogen . The body composition was assessed at the beginning and at the end of the trial by hydrostatic weighing . Administration of oil containing triacylglycerols with medium-chain fatty acids ( MCT OIL ) prevented the decline of the resting energy expenditure ( 130.0 + /- 9.2 kJ/kg lean body mass/day , as compared with 126.5 + /- 7.2 kJ/kg lean body mass/day in the basic group : the difference is statistically not significant ) . Although addition of oil increased the energy intake by 545 kJ/day , the drop of body weight and BMI was comparable with that in the group of obese patients who did not receive the oil ( 10.3 + /- 1.1 kg vs. 10.6 + /- 0.5 kg ) . While during administration of the oil the resting energy expenditure did not change ( 5.97 + /- 0.30 kJ/min . vs. 5.24 + /- 0.58 kJ/min . ) , in obese patients who were only on the strict reducing diet it declined from 5.45 + /- 0.18 kJ/min . to 4.44 + /- 0.22 kJ/min . ( p < 0.01 ) . The significant drop of total cholesterol achieved by dietotherapy alone ( 5.41 + /- 0.21 mmol/l vs. 6.26 0.20 mmol/l before treatment ) was not affected by administration of oil ( 4.86 + /- 0.28 mmol/l vs. 5.69 + /- 0.35 mmol/l before treatment ) . HDL-cholesterol , on the other h and , declined only in obese patients with dietotherapy ( 1.40 + /- 0.04 mmol/vs . 1.22 + /- 0.04 mmol/l after treatment , p < 0.01 ) . The triacylglycerol values declined significantly in both groups ( p < 0.01 ) . CONCLUSIONS It appears that administration of thermogenetically acting triacylglycerols with medium-chain fatty acids can prevent diet-induced energetic efficiency and can improve the long-term success of dietotherapy of obese patients
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 .