Medium Chain Fatty Acids and Ketones — MCFA  

Diet, Healthy Clinical Trial

Official title: Metabolic Effects of Dietary Medium-Chain Fatty Acids.

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

16 participants were randomized to complete two seven-day intervention periods with twice-daily consumption of Medium-chain fatty acids (MCT) or long-chain fatty acids (LCT) oil. Before and after each intervention, participants completed a five-hour experimental day evaluating the response to a first intake of the MCT or LCT oils (pre MCT or LCT), which was repeated after the intervention period of daily intake (post MCT or LCT) (Fig. The intervention periods were separated by a 2-4-week washout period.

Clinical Trial Description

Prior to the experimental days, the participants abstained from alcohol and vigorous physical activity and consumed a controlled, eucaloric diet comprising 30 energy % (E%) fat, 52 E% carbohydrate, and 18E% protein to ensure similar conditions before each experimental day.

On the experimental days, participants arrived by passive transport in the overnight fasted state (12 h) at 8 a.m at the institute. At arrival, participants were weighed, and body composition was determined using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Then a catheter was inserted into an antecubital vein. Following 30 min of supine rest, whole-body oxygen uptake and substrate oxidation were determined, whereafter a basal venous blood sample was obtained. Subsequently, participants ingested a test drink containing 35g of MCT or LCT oil diluted in 100g of a low-fat, low-carbohydrate cocoa milk within five min. 100 ml water was provided together with the test drink. Participants were blinded to the type of oil intake on the experimental days. The participants were then followed for five hours. Venous blood samples and indirect calorimetry measurements were performed frequently during the five hours. Participants rested in a bed throughout the test day.

Following the first test day, a seven-day intervention period (chronic intake) with twice-daily consumption of MCT or LCT oil was conducted. During the seven days of daily oil intake, the participants ingested 2x10g oil in 15g cocoa milk on day 1-2, 2x20g oil in 30g cocoa milk on day 3-5, and 2x30g oil in 40g cocoa milk on day 6-7. This corresponded to 812kJ on day 1-2, 1625kJ on day 3-5, and 2413kJ on day 6-7. The participants were instructed to maintain their habitual dietary patterns and physical activity level during the intervention. The participants were instructed to consume the oil together with breakfast and dinner and were supervised to ensure compliance.

After the chronic intake period, a second experimental day (post), mirroring the one of the pre day, was conducted.

After a wash-out period the intervention was repeated in a cross-over design. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Diet, Healthy
• Health

• NCT number: NCT06289296
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Copenhagen
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 1, 2022
• Completion date: September 30, 2023