TY - JOUR

T1 - Supplementation of Regular Diet With Medium-Chain Triglycerides for Procognitive Effects: A Narrative Review

AU - Shcherbakova, Ksenia

AU - Schwarz, Alexander

AU - Apryatin, Sergey

AU - Karpenko, Marina

AU - Trofimov, Alexander

PY - 2022/7/15

Y1 - 2022/7/15

N2 - It is now widely accepted that ketosis (a physiological state characterized by elevated plasma ketone body levels) possesses a wide range of neuroprotective effects. There is a growing interest in the use of ketogenic supplements, including medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), to achieve intermittent ketosis without adhering to a strict ketogenic diet. MCT supplementation is an inexpensive and simple ketogenic intervention, proven to benefit both individuals with normal cognition and those suffering from mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and other cognitive disorders. The commonly accepted paradigm underlying MCT supplementation trials is that the benefits stem from ketogenesis and that MCT supplementation is safe. However, medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) may also exert effects in the brain directly. Moreover, MCFAs, long-chain fatty acids, and glucose participate in mutually intertwined metabolic pathways. Therefore, the metabolic effects must be considered if the desired procognitive effects require administering MCT in doses larger than 1 g/kg. This review summarizes currently available research on the procognitive effects of using MCTs as a supplement to regular feed/diet without concomitant reduction of carbohydrate intake and focuses on the revealed mechanisms linked to particular MCT metabolites (ketone bodies, MCFAs), highlighting open questions and potential considerations.

AB - It is now widely accepted that ketosis (a physiological state characterized by elevated plasma ketone body levels) possesses a wide range of neuroprotective effects. There is a growing interest in the use of ketogenic supplements, including medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), to achieve intermittent ketosis without adhering to a strict ketogenic diet. MCT supplementation is an inexpensive and simple ketogenic intervention, proven to benefit both individuals with normal cognition and those suffering from mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and other cognitive disorders. The commonly accepted paradigm underlying MCT supplementation trials is that the benefits stem from ketogenesis and that MCT supplementation is safe. However, medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) may also exert effects in the brain directly. Moreover, MCFAs, long-chain fatty acids, and glucose participate in mutually intertwined metabolic pathways. Therefore, the metabolic effects must be considered if the desired procognitive effects require administering MCT in doses larger than 1 g/kg. This review summarizes currently available research on the procognitive effects of using MCTs as a supplement to regular feed/diet without concomitant reduction of carbohydrate intake and focuses on the revealed mechanisms linked to particular MCT metabolites (ketone bodies, MCFAs), highlighting open questions and potential considerations.

KW - capric acid (C10)

KW - caprylic acid (C8)

KW - cardiometabolic health

KW - ketosis

KW - medium-chain fatty acids

KW - medium-chain triglycerides

KW - neuroprotection

KW - procognitive activity

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135160521&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3389/fnut.2022.934497

DO - 10.3389/fnut.2022.934497

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85135160521

VL - 9

JO - Frontiers in Nutrition

JF - Frontiers in Nutrition

SN - 2296-861X

ER -