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Nutrition Essential Nutrients

Try Swapping Fatty Acids for Weight Loss

by Robbie Durand Published on May 22, 2024

filling foods
This post may contain affiliate links (disclosure policy).

MCT’s Enhance Weight Loss Only When Replaced with Other Fats.

Weight loss is something that many people have the goal of, but end up never truly achieving what they want due to them giving up and throwing the towel in early. They try doing the diets, the extensive cardio, resistance training routines, and so on, but it just doesn’t seem to work. However, have you tried MCT oils for weight loss?

MCT Oils for Weight Loss

Fats varying in fatty acid chain lengths are metabolized differently. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), containing 6–12 carbon fatty acids. MCTs are naturally found in foods such as coconut oil, palm oil, and butter. Coconut oil has the highest naturally occurring percentage of MCTs, which compose nearly 60% of its total fat content. The vast majority of the fats and oils eaten by Americans are saturated or unsaturated or come from an animal or a plant, are composed of long-chain triglycerides (LCT). Probably 98 to 100% of all the fats we eat consist of LCT. LCT are absorbed directly into the portal circulation and transported to the liver for rapid oxidation. LCT, however, are transported via chylomicrons into the lymphatic system, allowing for extensive uptake into adipose tissue. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that the rapid metabolism of MCT may increase energy expenditure (EE), decrease their deposition into adipose tissue and result in faster satiety.

There is evidence to suggest that short-term consumption of MCT increases energy expenditure in humans and results in decreased fat cell size and body weight accretion in animals. Medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) are readily oxidized in the liver. Animal and human studies have shown that the fast rate of oxidation of MCFA leads to greater energy expenditure (EE). Most animal studies have also demonstrated that the greater EE with MCFA relative to long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) results in less body weight gain and decreased size of fat depots after several months of consumption. Furthermore, both animal and human trials suggest a greater satiating effect of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) compared with long-chain triglycerides (LCT). However, results from human intervention studies investigating the weight reducing potential of MCTs, have been mixed.

Researchers just published a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of MCTs to long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) on weight loss and body composition in adults. Changes in blood lipid levels were secondary outcomes. Randomized controlled trials >3 weeks’ duration conducted in healthy adults were identified searching Web of Knowledge, Discover, PubMed, Scopus, New Zealand Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL until March 2014 with no language restriction. Thirteen trials (n=749) were identified. Compared with LCTs, MCTs decreased body weight); waist circumference, hip circumference, total body fat; total subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat. 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. However, further research is required by independent research groups using large, well-designed studies to confirm the efficacy of MCT and to determine the dosage needed for the management of a healthy body weight and composition. MCT’s can be used for safe and effective weight loss if you replace LCT with MCT’s in your diet, but don’t be fooled into thinking that MCT’s are a wonder fat that magically makes fat shrink. Only by replacing LCT with MCT’s has it been shown to reduce bodyweight and enhance fat loss.  Bodybuilders may want to consider experimenting with MCT’s for fat loss.

The Best MCT Oil

Performance Lab MCT

Performance Lab MCT

Performance Lab MCT

Performance Lab MCT is what you need to supercharge daily performance with a fast-acting oil-based energy supplement for your mind and body.

Shop Performance Lab

When it comes to finding the best MCT Oil for fat loss, Performance Lab MCT Energy Oil is great, and can really get the job done. This is also a great option if you are looking for a fast-acting oil-based energy supplement that can help your mind-body vitality and metabolic performance. Performance Lab MCT offers clean, convenient oil-based energy sourced from 100% organic non-GMO coconuts.

Another thing to consider is that you also do not have to worry about the flavor, as Performance Lab MCT is neutrally flavored to enhance coffee, shakes, sauces, dressings, and soups.

MCT Oil
Testing Perfomance Lab MCT Oil Energy

It also is cold-extracted with hexane-free technology and triple-distilled for purity.

Price: $39.00

Wrap Up

Overall, weight loss does not have to be as difficult as some see it, as you can use things like MCT Oil to really boost your progress.

Will you be giving it a try? Let us know, and for more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


References:

Scalfi, L, Coltorti, A. & Contaldo, F. (1991) Postprandial thermogenesis in lean and obese subjects after meals supplemented with medium-chain and long-chain triglycerides. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 53:1130-1133.

Seaton, T. B., Welle, S. L, Warenko, M. K. & Campbell, R. G. (1986) Thermic effect of medium-chain and long-chain triglycerides in man. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 44:630-634.

Hill, J. O., Peters, J. C., Yang, D., Sharp, T., Kaler, M., Abumrad, N. N. & Greene, H. L. (1989) Thermogenesis in humans during overfeeding with medium-chain triglycerides. Metabolism 38:641-648.

Rothwell, N. J. & Stock, M. J. (1987) Stimulation of thermogenesis and brown fat activity in rats fed medium chain triglyceride. Metabolism 36:128-130.

Van Wymelbeke, V., Himaya, A., Louis-Sylvestre, J. & Fantino, M. (1998) Influence of medium-chain and long-chain triacylglycerols on the control of food intake in men. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 68:226-234.

Mumme K, Stonehouse W. Effects of medium-chain triglycerides on weight loss and body composition: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015 Feb;115(2):249-63.

About Robbie Durand

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