Dietary medium-chain triacylglycerols suppress accumulation of body fat in a double-blind, controlled trial in healthy men and women.
We investigated the effect of long-term ingestion of dietary medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCT) on body weight and fat in humans. Using a double-blind, controlled protocol, we assessed the potential health benefits of MCT compared with long-chain triacylglycerols (LCT) in 78 healthy men and women [body mass index (BMI) > or = 23 kg/m(2): n = 26 (MCT), n = 30 (LCT); BMI < 23 kg/m(2): n = 15 (MCT), n = 7 (LCT)]. Changes in anthropometric variables, body weight and body fat during the 12-wk MCT treatment period were compared with those in subjects consuming the LCT diet. The subjects were asked to consume 9218 kJ/d and 60 g/d of total fat. The energy, fat, protein and carbohydrate intakes did not differ significantly between the groups. Body weight and body fat in both groups had decreased by wk 4, 8 and 12 of the study. However, in the subjects with BMI > or = 23 kg/m(2), the extent of the decrease in body weight was significantly greater in the MCT group than in the LCT group. In subjects with BMI > or = 23 kg/m(2), the loss of body fat in the MCT group (-3.86 +/- 0.3 kg) was significantly greater than that in the LCT group (-2.75 +/- 0.2 kg) at 8 wk. In addition, in subjects with BMI > or = 23 kg/m(2), the decrease in the area of subcutaneous fat in the MCT group was significantly greater than that in the LCT group at wk 4, 8 and 12. These results suggest that the MCT diet may reduce body weight and fat in individuals (BMI > or = 23 kg/m(2)) more than the LCT diet.
Tsuji
H
H
Division of Healthcare Science Research Laboratory, Nisshin Oil Mills, Ltd., Kanagawa 239-0832, Japan. Kagawa Nutrition University, Saitama 350-0288, Japan. hiroaki.tsuji@nisshin-seiyu.co.jp
Kasai
M
M
Takeuchi
H
H
Nakamura
M
M
Okazaki
M
M
Kondo
K
K
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects*; D000328:Adult; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014280:Triglycerides