A minor saturated fat from dairy and grazing-animal meat, now sold as a capsule. Higher blood amounts track with less diabetes and, less consistently, less heart disease; a genetic analysis found no sign the fat itself does the work. Two small trials moved no measure of weight, waist size or blood sugar. Well tolerated over three months; benefits remain associations. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), plasma or red cell | Above 0.4% of total fatty acids; trial response threshold above 5 µg/mL | Confirms absorption and identifies responders |
| Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) | 10–25 U/L | Liver-cell stress; the measure that moved in responders |
| Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) | 10–25 U/L | Pairs with ALT to separate liver from muscle sources |
| LDL cholesterol | Below 100 mg/dL; below 70 mg/dL with established plaque | The one lipid measure a trial has moved |
| Apolipoprotein B | Below 80 mg/dL | Counts every plaque-forming particle, not just cholesterol carried |
| Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) | 4.8–5.4% | Tracks the diabetes association that underpins the whole benefit case |
| Fasting insulin | 2–6 µIU/mL | Detects insulin resistance years before glucose rises |
| Hemoglobin and red cell distribution width | Hemoglobin mid-reference range; RDW below 13% | The red-cell claim, and the primary endpoint of the 2027 trial |
| High-sensitivity C-reactive protein | Below 1.0 mg/L | Tests the anti-inflammatory claim made from cell studies |
| Vitamin B12 and methylmalonic acid | B12 above 500 pg/mL; methylmalonic acid below 250 nmol/L | Odd-chain fats clear through a B12-dependent enzyme |
Cadence: Baseline, then the identical panel at 12 weeks, again at 6 months, then every 12 months