Medium-chain triglycerides are refined food fats from coconut and palm kernel oil, used for weight control and brain health; the body partly turns them into ketones, a backup brain fuel. The most consistent finding is a small loss of weight and body fat when they replace other fats. Memory and thinking benefits remain uncertain, with no support for longer lifespan. Digestive upset, common but reversible, is the main drawback. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| LDL cholesterol | <100 mg/dL | Safety check: may rise if MCT replaces unsaturated oils |
| Triglycerides | <150 mg/dL | Safety check: small rise reported with MCT oil |
| Beta-hydroxybutyrate (blood ketone) | 2-hour post-dose rise vs own pre-dose value | Confirms the product raises ketones |
| Body weight and waist circumference | Change from own baseline | Modest decrease when MCT replaces other fats |
| ALT | 7–55 U/L | Safety check in liver disease or valproate use |
| Creatinine | 0.7–1.3 mg/dL men; 0.6–1.1 mg/dL women | Safety check in frail adults with diarrhea: a rise signals dehydration |
| Cognitive screen (MoCA) | Change from own baseline | Expected change in people with cognitive complaints |
Cadence: Baseline before starting; ketones during the first 1–2 weeks of dose increases; lipids and weight at 8–12 weeks, then every 6–12 months; cognitive screens every 6–12 months for those with cognitive complaints; creatinine within 2–4 weeks in frail older adults who develop diarrhea.