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 .
Effects of margarine containing medium-chain triacylglycerols on body fat reduction in humans.
We found previously that the ingestion of margarine containing medium-chain triacylglycerols ( MCT ) result ed in a significant increase in postpr and ial thermogenesis when compared with long-chain triacylglycerols ( LCT ) . Diets that included margarine containing MCT and LCT were compared for 12 weeks in 73 subjects to investigate the effects  on body weight , body fat , areas of subcutaneous and visceral fat , serum total cholesterols , triglycerides , lipoproteins , plasma glucose , serum insulin , total ketone bodies , and the activities of aspartate aminotransferase , alanine aminotransferase , and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase . We conducted a double-blind , controlled study and used blended rapeseed oil and soybean oil ( LCT ) as a comparison . Two groups ingested 2100 - 2400 kcal/day of energy , 65 - 73 g/day of total fat , and 14 g/day of test margarine ( 5 g/day of MCT or LCT ) . The subjects on the MCT diet demonstrated significant decreases in body fat weight ( - 3.8 + /- 2.4 kg vs - 2.4 + /- 1.7 kg ; MCT vs LCT , mean + /- SD ) , subcutaneous fat ( - 38.2 + /- 29.9 cm(2 ) vs - 22.6 + /- 19.3 cm(2 ) ) , and visceral fat ( - 12.2 + /- 11.2 cm(2 ) vs - 1.6 + /- 12.8 cm(2 ) ) after 12 weeks . There were no clinical differences in measured blood parameters . We suggest that the postpr and ial increase in thermogenesis and control of postpr and ial triglyceride levels may explain these results
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 .