Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT)

Some fatty acids are not just beneficial but essential for our well-being. For instance, omega-3 is a short-chain fatty acid that boosts HDL, the “good” cholesterol. Similarly, medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are 6-12 fatty acids long, play a crucial role in various functions and have shown significant benefits for brain functions associated with aging. Found in foods like coconut oil, MCTs are metabolized differently from other fatty acids, offering unique advantages.

MCT Benefits

Provides Alternate Energy Source for Brain Function

MCTs include caproic, caprylic, capric, and lauric acids. These fatty acids are rapidly digested and absorbed into the liver, where they are used as direct energy sources. When combined with a carb-restricted ketogenic diet, MCTs trigger the liver to switch from glucose metabolism to “keto” metabolism. This process converts MCTs into ketones, energy packets that directly fuel the brain, unlike other triglycerides [38].

Aid Weight-Loss

MCTs alone cannot initiate weight loss but are effective when paired with a ketogenic diet. They are converted to ketones, which the body does not store, accelerating weight loss by promoting the ketogenesis pathway [38][40]. Additionally, MCTs may stimulate the production of post-digestion hormones that signal satiety to the brain, indirectly reducing calorie intake and promoting weight loss [41].

Anti-Aging: Protects Cognitive and Muscle Functions

MCTs have shown potential in improving cognition, particularly in early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s disease [39]. They also enhance exercise performance in middle-aged to older adults [42]. By serving as readily available energy sources, MCTs support muscle fitness, especially when combined with exercise. Interestingly, MCTs boost mitochondrial biogenesis and functions by increasing the production of essential proteins, improving endurance during exercise and reducing exercise-induced muscle damage [45].

Usage in OneLife

MCTs in OneLife rewire the body’s metabolic pathways toward an active, energy-efficient resting metabolism (RM), enhancing repair, recovery, and responsiveness. They complement other anti-aging supplements in OneLife by creating an environment conducive to energy production and cellular repair, helping to reverse the effects of aging [43].

Timeline to Results

In OneLife, MCTs can start showing effects on resting metabolism and fat-burning within two weeks, although results depend on factors like age and lifestyle. While MCTs augment weight loss rather than causing it directly, combining supplementation with an exercise regimen accelerates fat burning. Benefits to muscle strength, cognition, and overall muscle function may become noticeable within 1.5 months of regular supplementation [44].