Dietary Medium-chain Triacylglycerols Suppress Accumulation of Body Fat Compared in a Double-blind Controlled Trial.

Aim: We investigated the effect of long-term ingestion of dietary medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCT) on body weight and fat in humans. Methods: Using a double-blind, controlled protocol we assessed the potential health benefits of MCT in comparison with long-chain triacylglycerols (LCT) using 78 healthy volunteers. Changes in anthropometric variables, body weight arid body fat profiles during the 12 wk treatment period were compared with those in subjects consuming the LCT diet. The subjects were asked to consume 9218 kj/d energy and 60 g/d total fat. Results: The energy, fat, protein and carbohydrate intakes did not differ significantly between the groups. Body weight and body fat in both groups were decreased at 4, 8, and 12 wk into the study period. However, in the subjects with BMI>23kg/m², the extent of the decrease in body weight was significantly greater in the MCT group than in the LCT group. In subjects with BMI>23kg/m²m the change in body fat in the MCT group was significantly lower than that in the LCT group. Conclusions: These results suggest that the MCT diet may reduce body weight and fat in individuals (BMI>23kg/m²) to a greater extent than the LCT diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]