MCT Oil 946ml - Now

MCT Oil 946ml - Now

NOW Foods MCT Oil Liquid (473 and 946 ml) is a high-quality supplement containing MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides) derived from coconut and palm kernel oil. The product contains no artificial additives and is completely tasteless. It is versatile in its use, for example, as an addition to dressings, sauces, or smoothies.

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are fats naturally found in coconut and palm oil. MCTs are digested more easily and quickly than other types of fats, as they require fewer enzymes and bile acids for intestinal absorption. MCTs are metabolized very quickly in the liver and promote higher energy expenditure and less fat storage. Numerous studies suggest that replacing other fats with MCT oil in a healthy diet can therefore help support a healthy weight and body composition. MCT stands for medium-chain triglyceride. The fats we consume daily in our diet are in the form of triglycerides, which have their length defined by the number of carbons they possess in their chains, which can vary between 2 and 22. Most of the triglycerides we consume are long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), i.e., with more than 12 carbons; medium-chain ones are in the 8 to 12 carbon range. The difference in relation to other fats is due to the fact that MCT has 8.3 kcal/g, a caloric value 10% lower than LCTs, which have 9 kcal/g. It is a quick source of energy as it is not incorporated into lipoproteins. Because it is more water-soluble, it does not require bile - its hydrolysis occurs through the action of pancreatic lipase, and its absorption in the duodenum is faster than that of LCTs. At a speed comparable to glucose, they enter the bloodstream and are taken directly to the liver and muscles, where they are used as an immediate source of energy. In terms of benefits, there are several indications of improved physical endurance through the consumption of MCTs. Studies indicate that their consumption increases the values of key enzymes in the Krebs cycle (the body's main energy mechanism), in addition to increasing the rate of body fat metabolism, making cellular energy production more effective.

The use of lipids in high-intensity exercise is essential, as they are stored in the body in the form of triglycerides in plasma, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle, reaching a volume up to 60 times greater than that of glycogen, providing a much longer-lasting energy supply.

However, fat slows down gastric emptying, thus being a slow-acting energy source, and due to the high energy demand for high-intensity athletes, MCT is widely used in performance improvement strategies. Another important characteristic is that MCT can cross the mitochondrial membrane easily, and without the presence of L-carnitine, which is essential for the transport of LCTs. This characteristic makes energy availability faster and suggests that MCT supplementation during exercise is a strategy to increase the availability of free fatty acids and spare glycogen. Medium-chain triglycerides may have an anticatabolic effect due to their easy energy conversion, sparing muscle mass from tissue loss during the conversion of amino acids into calories, similar to what occurs with carbohydrates. Since they can prevent or reduce muscle catabolism, they allow for an increase in the resting metabolic rate, with greater fat mobilization. The main sources of MCT found in nature are:

Coconut oil: Lauric acid makes up approximately 50% of coconut fat. Among the other lipid sources in coconut is caprylic acid, which has antioxidant action and is a source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).

Palm oil: Also known as palm oil, it contains equal proportions of saturated fatty acids (palmitic 44% and stearic 4%) and unsaturated fatty acids (oleic 40% and linoleic 10%). It is a natural source of vitamin E, tocopherols, and tocotrienols that act as antioxidants. It is also rich in beta-carotene, an important source of vitamin A.

946 ml