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 .
Changes in blood lipids during six days of overfeeding with medium or long chain triglycerides.
Although medium chain triglyceride ( MCT ) is less calorically dense than long chain triglyceride ( LCT ) , it produces a greater thermic effect following ingestion . We hypothesized that the previously observed high rate of thermogenesis produced by MCT overfeeding was due to hepatic de novo synthesis of long chain fatty acids ( LCFA ) from the excess medium chain fatty acids ( MCFA ) . To study this , we compared the effects of overfeeding MCT- and LCT-containing diets on blood lipid profiles .  Ten in-patient , nonobese males were overfed ( 150 % of estimated energy requirements ) two formula diets for 6 days each , in a r and omized crossover design . Diets differed only in the composition of the fat and contained either 40 % of energy as MCT or LCT ( soybean oil ) . The major differences between diets in the result ing pattern of blood lipids were : 1 ) a reduction in fasting serum total cholesterol concentrations with the LCT , but not the MCT diet ; and 2 ) a threefold increase in fasting serum triglyceride concentrations with MCT , but not LCT , diet . Moreover , 10 % of the fasting triglyceride fatty acids were medium chain and 40 % were 16:0 with the MCT diet . This compared to 1 % and 20 % for medium chain and 16:0 , respectively , with the LCT diet . In addition , there were increases in 16:1 , 18:0 , and 18:1 in the triglycerides during MCT feeding . The changes in fatty acids in triglycerides with MCT feeding are consistent with the hypothesis that excess dietary MCT cause a significant increase in the hepatic synthesis of these fatty acids from MCFA through de novo synthesis and /or chain elongation and desaturation . These processes could account for the higher rate of postpr and ial thermogenesis with MCT as compared to LCT
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 .