Current:Home > FinanceMCT oil is all the rage, but does science back up any of its claimed health benefits?-LoTradeCoin
MCT oil is all the rage, but does science back up any of its claimed health benefits?
View Date:2024-12-23 16:47:55
In a world where dietary supplements are purported to help with everything from improved sleep to better vision, MCT oil is often promoted as having many of the most desired health benefits.
Once pushed primarily by bodybuilders and fringe fitness gurus, the supplement has become mainstream, today even wowing celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian, Alicia Vikander and Emma Stone.
Despite its newfound popularity, few of MCT oil's purported health benefits are rooted in science and others aren't supported at all. What's more, experts explain why the supplement isn't for everyone.
What is MCT oil?
MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides − dietary fats that occur naturally in food sources like coconut oil, palm oil, and some dairy products such as butter, cheese, yogurt, and cow's and goat's milk. In the case of MCT oil, such fatty acids are extracted from "coconut and palm kernel sources" and made into a clear liquid, explains Caroline Susie, RD, a registered dietician and national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
One of the things that makes MCT oil unique is that its molecules are smaller than many other types of fats, making them easier to digest. "Most fats have a more complicated trek through the body," explains Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, a Virginia-based registered dietician and author of "Prediabetes: A Complete Guide." Unlike long-chain fatty acids, smaller ones can travel directly to the liver for processing. Because of this, "MCT oil can be used medically because the fats are small enough to be absorbed into the body," she says.
People can obtain medium-chain triglycerides from the aforementioned food sources, but MCT oil is usually taken as a supplement in liquid or powder form and is often added to coffee, smoothies or even salad dressings.
It's also sometimes used as a topical application to help moisturize or hydrate dry skin.
What does MCT oil do for a person?
The purported health benefits of MCT oil include improved cholesterol levels, reduced inflammation, increased athletic performance, better brain health and a decreased risk of diabetes − though supporting research for such claims is lacking.
MCT oil is probably most popular as a weight management tool because the oil has been connected to feelings of fullness and people eat less when they aren't hungry, but the science isn't robust on that point either. "Only small studies have shown very small benefits for weight management," says Weisenberger.
Another of MCT oil's studied benefits is as an energy booster, Susie explains. "And some research suggests MCT oil can also increase physical strength," she adds, "but again, more research is needed."
In short, the experts say there are few purported health benefits connected to MCT oil that are actually backed by scientific findings.
Who should not use MCT oil?
Still, including MCT oil in one's diet in small doses is considered safe, per the Cleveland Clinic, but only for healthy individuals. "MCT oils are not for everyone," says Weisenberger.
She says it's best to avoid MCT oil supplementation for anyone who has a heart condition or for people with fatty liver disease because medium-chain triglycerides are still fats and MCT oil is very high in calories − about 120 calories in a single tablespoon. She adds that even for healthy people considering taking MCT oil, "it's always a good idea talk to your doctor before starting any supplements."
What is the healthiest oil to cook with?Most have some benefits but these two might be best.
veryGood! (2)
Related
- Jason Kelce Offers Up NSFW Explanation for Why Men Have Beards
- Dolly Parton's cheerleader outfit can teach us all a lesson on ageism
- Foul play not suspected after body found in vent at college arts center in Michigan
- Second group of Hamas-held hostages released after hours-long delay; temporary cease-fire holds
- Sister Wives’ Madison Brush Details Why She Went “No Contact” With Dad Kody Brown
- David Letterman returns to The Late Show for first time since 2015 in Colbert appearance
- Cha-ching! Holiday online spending surpasses last year, sets new online sales record
- 2024 NFL draft first-round order: New England Patriots in contention for top pick
- College Football Playoff bracket: Complete playoff picture after latest rankings
- Qatar is the go-to mediator in the Mideast war. Its unprecedented Tel Aviv trip saved a shaky truce
Ranking
- Inflation ticked up in October, CPI report shows. What happens next with interest rates?
- Police arrest suspect in possible 'hate-motivated' shooting of three Palestinian students
- Lulus' Cyber Monday Sale 2023: Save Up to 90% Off Buzzworthy Dresses, Accessories & More
- Kevin 'Geordie' Walker, guitarist of English rock band Killing Joke, dies of stroke at 64
- UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight card, odds, how to watch, date
- Colorado's Shedeur Sanders was nation's most-sacked QB. He has broken back to show for it.
- Rescuers attempt manual digging to free 41 Indian workers trapped for over two weeks in tunnel
- Man accused of threatening shooting at New Hampshire school changes plea to guilty
Recommendation
-
Joey Logano wins Phoenix finale for 3rd NASCAR Cup championship in 1-2 finish for Team Penske
-
ICC prosecutors halt 13-year Kenya investigation that failed to produce any convictions
-
Wilders ally overseeing first stage of Dutch coalition-building quits over fraud allegation
-
Caretaker charged in death of her partner and grandmother in Maine
-
South Carolina to take a break from executions for the holidays
-
2 men exonerated for 1990s NYC murders after reinvestigations find unreliable witness testimony
-
Natalie Portman on children working in entertainment: 'I don't believe that kids should work'
-
2024 NFL draft first-round order: New England Patriots in contention for top pick