Medium chain triglycerides (MCT): State‐of‐the‐art on chemistry, synthesis, health benefits and applications in food industry

Abstract

Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) are esters of fatty acids with 6 to 12 carbon atom chains. Naturally, they occur in various sources; their composition and bioactivity are source and extraction process‐linked. The molecular size of MCT oil permits unique metabolic pathways and energy production rates, making MCT oil a high‐value functional food. This review details the common sources of MCT oil, presenting critical information on the various approaches for MCT oil extraction or synthesis. Apart from conventional techniques, non‐thermal processing methods that show promising prospects are analyzed. The biological effects of MCT oil are summarized, and the range of need‐driven modification approaches are elaborated. A section is devoted to highlighting the recent trends in the application of MCT oil for food, nutraceuticals, and allied applications. While much is debated about the role of MCT oil in human health and wellness, there is limited information on daily requirements, impact on specific population groups, and effects of long‐term consumption. Nonetheless, several studies have been conducted and continue to identify the most effective methods for MCT oil extraction, processing, handling, and storage. A knowledge gap exists and future research must focus on technology packages for scalability and sustainability.

A Preliminary Comparison of Plasma Tryptophan Metabolites and Medium- and Long-Chain Fatty Acids in Adult Patients with Major Depressive Disorder and Schizophrenia

“…Medium- and long-chain fatty acids (MCFAs and LCFAs) are natural compounds that mainly participate in cell metabolism. MCFAs are important food constituents that contain total carbon atom numbers from 6 to 12 [ 39 ], whereas those greater than 12 are considered long-chain fatty acids. The roles of MCFAs within gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis as well as mitochondrial function and metabolism have been uncovered currently [ 40 , 41 ].…”

Topical Delivery of Diacetyl Boldine in a Microemulsion Formulation for Chemoprotection against Melanoma

“…Likewise, the MCT oil vehicle did not show any cytotoxicity. MCT oil consists of caprylic and capric triglycerides which are obtained from natural and synthetic origin [ 44 ]. It is widely used in several pharmaceutical products.…”

Evaluation of the changes in physiochemical properties and fatty acid profile of industrially pasteurized coconut (<em>Cocos nucifera</em>) milk during storage

“…The released fatty acids might be vital contributors to the flavor of processed coconut milk (Ng et al, 2021). Fatty acids with fewer than 8 or 10 carbon atoms are known to impart acidic, pungent, and rancid notes in food products, while fatty acids with more than 12 carbon atom contribute for a soapy taste (Nimbkar et al, 2022). The criteria established by Codex Alimentarius guideline for concentrated coconut milk (when there is no addition of water in the processing) are total solids 25.4 -37.3 (% m/m), pH 5.9 (minimum), moisture (%m/m) 74.6 (maximum) (Codex Allimentarius, 2019).…”