Recent advances in metabolism and applications of medium-chain triglycerides in neurodegenerative diseases

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) have attracted considerable interest in functional foods and nutrition due to their rapid and efficient metabolism. Emerging evidence indicates that MCTs can enhance cerebral energy metabolism, supporting interest in their potential role in nutritional strategies for neurodegenerative diseases and the maintenance of neurological function during healthy aging. This review examines the neuroprotective potential of MCTs from the perspectives of metabolism and application. It elucidates the distinctive metabolic pathways of MCTs, emphasizing their ability to supply alternative energy substrates to the brain through medium-chain fatty acids and ketone body production. Recent advances in chain-length-specific MCT formulations are also summarized, along with their applications in nutritional supplementation. Key challenges and future research directions are discussed, including further investigation into the chain-length-specific effects of MCTs, the need for standardized clinical validation, and rigorous safety assessment. Overall, current evidence suggests that MCT-based interventions can increase ketone availability and may improve selected metabolic or cognitive outcomes, suggesting potential relevance to maintaining functional healthspan, although clinical benefits remain inconsistent. These insights aim to inform future research and the development of MCT-based nutritional strategies for age-related diseases, particularly neurodegenerative diseases.