a couple of threads on MCT oil in Keto

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Reply to: Re: Ketogenic Diet/MCT Oil posted by Chip Thuss on June 02, 19100

at 17:56:38:

: Our sonhas been on the ketogenic diet for 3 years now and we just recently

(1 month ago)added the MCT oil. He is now in much deeper ketosis than he was

with Canola Oil and we have noticed a vast improvement in seizure control. I

found this, in fact, while I was shopping for the best pricing to buy the

oil since it appears we are going to be continuing it for a while.

It is important to distinguish between MCT oil, and the MCT oil diet. MCT

oil seems to be a " good " thing - the MCT oil diet is much more questionable.

MCT oil

MCT stands for medium chain triglycerides. Most naturally occurring fats are

triglycerides - tri meaning that each molecule have three carbon chains. In

the medium chain triglycerides each chain has 6 - 12 carbon atoms, and for

the medically refined grades of MCT oil each chain has 8 - 10 carbon atoms.

MCT oils occur naturally, and the most abundant source is coconut oil. Most

MCT oil is refined from coconut oil.

MCT oil is a clear light coloured liquid with no flavour and low viscosity.

It is usually sold in an emulsified form, which is easier to digest, in this

case it looks like a white milky liquid.

MCT oil is interesting because, when it is metabolised in the body, it

behaves rather more like a carbohydrate than a fat. The fuel of preference

for the body is carbohydrate, and the body will use up its store of

carbohydrate before using other fuels. Carbohydrates are quick acting -

athletes take glucose tablets to provide energy, the body heats rapidly when

we drink alcohol - typically carbohydrates will be used within a few hours

of eating, which is why we eat so frequently. By contrast, the primary role

of fats is to store energy - animals fatten up to prepare for the rigor of

winter. The body normally tries to store the fats we eat, but will use them

as fuel if there is not enough available from carbohydrates; first it will

use the fats in the food, and if these are insufficient it will start to

deplete the fat storage in our body tissue. Fats metabolise more slowly and

typically it will take a day or so for the fat content of food to be used.

That is why we feel full after a fatty meal, and why it really is a good

thing to line to stomach with milk before drinking - the fat slows down the

metabolism of the alcohol.

Long chain fats (ie the normal varieties) are converted into chemicals

called chylomicrons by the digestive system, and these are then transported

around the body by the lymphatic system before entering the circulatory

system. This is a relatively slow process, and so fats metabolise more

slowly than carbohydrates. Unlike other fats, MCT oil does not go into the

lymphatic system; instead it is transported directly to the liver where it

is metabolised, so releasing energy quickly, just like a carbohydrate, and

creating lots of ketones in the process.

MCT oil can be used as a source of fat in the classical ketogenic diet. It

offers a number of advantages:

MCT oil is more " ketogenic " than other fats, so when it is used, it may be

possible to operate the diet at a lower ratio, which gives greater

flexibility in the choice of foods.

Because it is fast acting, it can be used as a ketogenic pick me up, for

example by giving additional MCT oil in the morning to boost ketones

quickly.

MCT oil is also a laxative, which is often a useful thing with the ketogenic

diet.

It also has some disadvantages:

It is not very palatable, and some children may not find it acceptable - no

problem, of course, if the child is tube fed.

MCT oil can only be introduced slowly into the diet. Until the body adjusts

to its use, it can cause severe stomach cramps.

It should not used where there is any history of liver problems.

We use MCT oil to increase the overall ketone level, and as a booster when

ketones are low.

Dr Freeman is also not very complimentary about the MCT diet:

Although the MCT diet has been reported to be equally as effective as the

classical ketogenic diet, this has not been our experience at s Hopkins.

.. . Many parents tell us that their child has already been on the ketogenic

diet without success. On further questioning, this prior diet usually turns

out to have been the MCT diet. We have found some children who continued to

have seizures despite tolerating the MCT diet, but who subsequently

responded well to the classical ketogenic diet. We have also seen many

children and families who could not tolerate the MCT diet, but who did well

on the classical ketogenic diet.

So the conclusion must be: MCT oil is a good thing to try, particularly if

you have difficulties maintaining ketones, but treat the MCT diet with

caution.

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