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 .
Medium- versus long-chain triglycerides for 27 days increases fat oxidation and energy expenditure without resulting in changes in body composition in overweight women
OBJECTIVE : To determine the effects of long-term consumption of medium chain ( MCT ) versus long chain triglycerides ( LCT ) on energy expenditure ( EE ) , substrate oxidation and body composition . HYPOTHESIS : MCT consumption will not result in greater EE , substrate oxidation , and body weight loss compared with LCT consumption . RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES : Seventeen healthy obese women participated in this r and omized , crossover inpatient trial . Meals were prepared and consumed on site for two periods of 27 days . Diets containing 40 % of energy as fat , with treatment fat comprising 75 % of the total fat , were design ed to supply each subject with their individual weight-maintaining energy needs . The MCT diet contained 67 % of treatment fat as MCT oil ( 49 % octanoate , 50 % decanoate ) whereas the LCT diet contained exclusively beef tallow as treatment fat . Body composition was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) on day 1 and 28 of each phase while energy expenditure was measured on day 2 and 27 . RESULTS : Changes in total and subcutaneous adipose tissue volumes following consumption of MCT and LCT were not different ( −0.61±0.38 l vs −0.54±0.48 l and −0.58±0.35 l vs −0.48±0.40 l , respectively ) . Average EE and fat oxidation were greater ( P<0.05 ) during MCT than LCT consumption ( 0.95±0.019 vs 0.90±0.024 kcal/min , respectively , for EE and 0.080±0.0026 vs 0.075±0.0022 g/min , respectively for fat oxidation ) . DISCUSSION : These results show that long-term consumption of MCT  enhances EE and fat oxidation in obese women , when compared to LCT consumption . The difference in body composition change  between MCT and LCT consumption , although not statistically different , was consistent with differences predicted by the shifts in EE . It can be concluded that substitution of MCT for LCT in a targeted energy balance diet may prevent long-term weight gain via increased EE
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 .