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 .
Value of VLCD supplementation with medium chain triglycerides
BACKGROUND : Medium chain triglycerides ( MCT ) are energetically less dense , highly ketogenic , and more easily oxidised than long chain triglycerides ( LCT ) . MCT also differ from LCT in their digestive and metabolic pathways . OBJECTIVE : To test the effects of MCT supplementation during a very low calorie diet (VLCD).SUBJECTS AND METHODS : Three groups of tightly matched obese women with body mass index ( BMI ) > 30 kg/m2 received an isoenergetic ( 578.5 kcal )  VLCD  ( Adinax ® , Novo Vital , Sweden ) enriched with MCT or LCT ( 8.0 and 9.9 g/100 g Adinax ® respectively ) or a low-fat ( 3 g/100 g ) and high-carbohydrate regimen . The diets were administered over 4 weeks . Body composition was measured with DEXA and appetite/satiety-according to Blundell . Beta hydroxybutyric acid concentration in plasma and nitrogen excretion in urine was measured during consecutive days of VLCD . The study was performed in a r and omised double-blind manner . RESULTS : The MCT group showed a significantly greater decrease in body weight during the first 2 weeks . The contribution of body fat to the total weight loss was higher while the contribution of fat-free mass ( FFM ) was lower . The MCT group had a higher concentration of ketone bodies in plasma and a lower nitrogen excretion in urine . Hunger feelings were less intense while satiety was higher . These differences were observed during the first 2 weeks of treatment and gradually declined during the third and fourth weeks . CONCLUSIONS : Replacement of LCT by MCT in the VLCD increased the rate of decrease of body fat and body weight and has a sparing effect on FFM . The intensity of hunger feelings was lower and paralleled the higher increase of ketone bodies . These effects gradually declined , indicating subsequent metabolic adaptation . Further studies are required to confirm the protein-sparing and appetite-suppressing effects of MCT supplementation during the first 2 weeks of VLCD treatment
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 .