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 .
Consumption of an oil composed of medium chain triacyglycerols, phytosterols, and N-3 fatty acids improves cardiovascular risk profile in overweight women.
Medium chain triacylglycerols ( MCT ) have been suggested as efficacious in weight management because they possess greater thermogenic qualities relative to long chain triacylglycerols ; however , MCT may also increase circulating lipid concentrations , possibly increasing risk of cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) . The present objective was to examine the effect of a diet supplemented with a functional oil ( FctO ) composed of energy expenditure-enhancing MCT ( 50 % of fat ) , cholesterol-lowering phytosterols ( 22 mg/kg body weight ) , and triacylglycerol-suppressing n-3 fatty acids ( 5 % of fat ) , versus a beef tallow-based diet ( BT ) , on plasma lipid and aminothiol concentrations . In a r and omized , single-blind , crossover design , partially-inpatient trial , 17 overweight women consumed each oil as part of a controlled , supervised , targeted energy balance diet for 27 days , with 4 or 8 weeks of washout between phases . Mean plasma total cholesterol concentration was lower ( P < .0001 ) , by 9.1 % , on FctO ( 4.37 + /- 0.20 mmol/L ) versus BT ( 4.80 + /- 0.20 mmol/L ) . Mean plasma low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol was also lower ( P < .0001 ) following FctO ( 2.39 + /- 0.15 mmol/L ) versus BT ( 2.86 + /- 0.16 mmol/L ) , representing a 16.0 % difference between diets . High-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol and circulating triacylglycerol concentrations remained unaffected by treatment . Ratios of HDL : LDL and HDL : total cholesterol were higher ( P < .01 ) by 22.0 % and 11.0 % , respectively , on FctO versus BT . Plasma total homocysteine remained unchanged with FctO , but decreased ( P < .05 ) with control , hence higher ( P < .05 ) end points were observed with FctO ( 6.95 + /- 0.33 micromol/L ) versus BT ( 6.27 + /- 0.28 micromol/L ) . Plasma glutathione increased ( P < .05 ) by 0.44 micromol/L with FctO supplementation . In conclusion , despite equivocal effects on homocysteine levels , consumption of a functional oil composed of MCT , phytosterols , and n-3 fatty acids for 27 days improves the overall cardiovascular risk profile of overweight women
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 .