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Medium Chain Triglycerides Modulate the Ketogenic Effect of a Metabolic Switch
Camille Vandenberghe1, Valérie St-Pierre1, Mélanie Fortier1
1Research Center on Aging, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
Frontiers in Nutrition
|February 22, 2020
Summary
Medium-chain triglycerides (kMCT) enhance ketone production and reduce blood sugar. An early meal boosts this metabolic switching effect, suggesting benefits for fasting protocols.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic health and nutrition science.
- Neuroscience and aging research.
Background:
- Ketones offer an alternative brain fuel, potentially neuroprotective for aging individuals.
- Optimizing ketogenic effects from medium-chain triglyceride supplements (kMCT) requires further study.
- Metabolic switching (MS) from glucose to ketones may offer health benefits but is under-researched in humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of kMCT, low-carbohydrate meals, and meal timing on metabolic markers during an 8-hour study.
- To investigate the influence of age on metabolic switching and ketone response.
- To evaluate the efficacy of an 8-hour protocol for studying metabolic changes.
Main Methods:
- An 8-hour metabolic study day protocol was employed.
- Participants received two 10g doses of kMCT supplement.
- Blood levels of ketones, glucose, insulin, and free fatty acids (FFA) were monitored.
- Meal timing (early vs. delayed) and age were investigated as variables.
Main Results:
- Two kMCT doses increased plasma ketones by 19% and reduced glycemia by 12% over 8 hours.
- Insulin and FFA levels remained unaffected by kMCT supplementation.
- An early meal significantly potentiated the ketogenic effect compared to a delayed meal.
- Age and low-carbohydrate meals did not influence the ketone response.
Conclusions:
- An 8-hour study period effectively assesses short-term metabolic changes during metabolic switching.
- kMCT supplementation robustly increases ketone levels in the short term.
- kMCT may enhance the metabolic benefits of intermittent fasting and metabolic switching.
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