Medium-chain triglyceride

A triglyceride composed mainly of fatty acids with six to twelve carbon atoms. Its fatty acids are generally absorbed and metabolized differently from long-chain fatty acids.

Triglyceride: A lipid made of glycerol bonded to three fatty acids. Medium-chain triglycerides are a chain-length-defined subgroup of triglycerides.
Medium-chain triglyceride oil: A dietary oil enriched in triglycerides containing medium-chain fatty acids. It is the common concentrated form used in foods and clinical nutrition.
Long-chain triglyceride: A triglyceride whose fatty acids generally contain more than twelve carbon atoms. Long-chain triglycerides require more bile-dependent processing and usually travel through lymph.
Ketosis: A metabolic state in which the body produces and uses elevated amounts of ketone bodies. Medium-chain fats can increase ketone production, but the health significance depends on context.
Medium-chain fatty acid: A fatty acid with a carbon chain typically containing six to twelve atoms. These fatty acids form the defining components of medium-chain triglycerides.
Malabsorption: Impaired intestinal absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract. Medium-chain fats can be useful when absorption of long-chain fats is compromised.
Short-chain fatty acid: A fatty acid with fewer than six carbon atoms, often produced by gut microbes. Short-chain fatty acids have shorter chains and distinct sources and physiological roles.
Dietary fat: Fat consumed in food, providing energy and essential fatty acids and supporting nutrient absorption. MCT benefits must be judged against the broader effects of dietary fat composition.
Bile acid: A liver-produced molecule that helps disperse dietary fats in the intestine. Medium-chain fats depend less on bile-assisted emulsification than long-chain fats.
Short bowel syndrome: A disorder in which extensive small-intestine loss impairs nutrient and fluid absorption. Clinical diets may use medium-chain fats to provide energy despite reduced absorptive capacity.

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