Best Sources of MCT Supplements

Medium-Chain Triglyceride supplements, or MCT Supplements, have gained in popularity along with the ketogenic diet throughout the past couple of years. They can aid in weight loss, help lower cholesterol, and may be able to lower blood sugar levels.

Medium-chain triglycerides are found in coconut oil and in smaller amounts in butter from grass-fed cows, cheeses, palm oil, whole milk, and full-fat yogurt. While supplement pills don’t give quite the same health benefits as getting them from whole foods, the supplements have become wildly popular among people on the ketogenic diet.

What are medium-chain triglycerides?

Medium-chain triglycerides are a type of fat that has a different chemical structure than the long-chain triglycerides found in most other foods. MCTs rapidly break down in the body, reducing the probability of them turning into body fat. Upon digestion, they go straight to the liver, where they convert into ketones.

Why Do Keto Followers Take MCT Supplements?

Studies show that MCTs help to reduce appetite while increasing feelings of fullness. They increase levels of peptide YY and leptin, which are two hormones that increase feelings of fullness while reducing appetite.¹ Studies also show that MCTs aid in the body’s ability to burn fat and calories.^{2, 3}

Since MCT supplements produce ketones, they can help followers of the ketogenic diet consume more carbs while still staying in ketosis. It’s the perfect friend to the ketogenic dieter.

What sources do MCT supplements come from?

Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil

The lauric acid in coconut oil contains a high concentration of medium-chain triglycerides, but they also contain long-chain triglycerides, which are slower to digest and thus have a higher chance of converting into body fat. That said, it’s still a great source of MCTs. Lauric acid is fantastic for skin health and immune system health for its antimicrobial properties.⁴  Studies show that the lauric acid in coconut oil acts as a safe, effective antiviral, which offers fantastic immune-boosting benefits.⁵

Capric and Caprylic Acid in MCT Oil

Capric and Caprylic Acids are a faster, longer-lasting, more usable source of energy and are less likely to be stored as body fat. They pass through the GI tract quickly and are easily metabolized. They are better for producing ketones, but do not have the same immune-boosting benefits of lauric acid.⁶

Choosing your MCT supplement depends on what your end goal is. You can gain plenty of health benefits by simply cooking with coconut oil, as coconut oil is the cheapest option. But if you want a solid ketogenic boost, then taking MCT supplement pills might give you the metabolic benefits you’re looking for. There is no “best” source – it all depends on what you want from your MCTs.

Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD

This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD.

Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD is an aesthetic medicine specialist whose work focuses on patients who are treated for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other weight-related issues through nutritional analysis, keto diet programs, and supporting medications.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Rebecca McCusker

Rebecca has been freelance writing since she was eighteen years old, and she is especially passionate about health and wellness topics. She lives in the Ohio countryside with her husband and two Australian Shepherds, and when she's not writing, she's playing piano and guitar in her folk-rock band, Linden Hollow.

Latest posts by Rebecca McCusker (see all)

• Love Good Fats Secures Funding and Launches in the U.S. - April 5, 2019
• Food and Beverage Manufacturers Cut Sugar Quickly - August 15, 2018
• Are Low-Carb Desserts the Next Big Thing? - July 12, 2018