{
  "slug": "mct",
  "name": "MCT (Medium-Chain Triglycerides)",
  "alternate_names": [
    "Medium-chain triglycerides",
    "MCT oil",
    "C8 caprylic acid",
    "C10 capric acid",
    "Fractionated coconut oil"
  ],
  "mechanism": [
    "Portal-vein direct transport to liver (carnitine-shuttle-independent rapid β-oxidation)",
    "Hepatic ketogenesis (BHB / acetoacetate generation)",
    "Increased diet-induced thermogenesis (faster oxidation than LCT)",
    "AMPK activation via energy-metabolism flux",
    "Decanoic acid (C10) direct AMPA-receptor modulation (mechanistic / preclinical context)"
  ],
  "target": [
    "Hepatic fatty-acid β-oxidation pathway",
    "Ketone-body bioenergetics (BHB/AcAc)",
    "Energy-expenditure / thermogenesis",
    "Postprandial satiety signaling"
  ],
  "use_case": [
    "energy metabolism & thermogenesis (research context)",
    "body-weight management vs LCT substitution (research context)",
    "ketone production / metabolic-state support (research context)",
    "acute satiety & food-intake reduction (research context)"
  ],
  "body_system": [
    "MITO",
    "METABOLISM",
    "WEIGHT",
    "GUT",
    "CNS"
  ],
  "evidence_tier": "A",
  "evidence_anchor_pmid_count": 6,
  "dosage_range": "Research/practice range: MCT oil 15-30 g/day (1-2 tbsp), substituting an equal amount of dietary fat (not added on top); C8-rich for ketogenesis split across meals. \"Start low, go slow\" (begin ~5 g/day, increase ~5 g every 3-5 days) to limit GI upset; single doses >30 g frequently cause GI distress. MCT oil ~8.3 kcal/g.",
  "safety_notes": "Generally well tolerated (FDA GRAS GRN 1049, 2022). Dose-limiting GI effects (nausea, cramping, diarrhea) — single doses >30 g poorly tolerated. Caution in severe hepatic insufficiency (MCT is metabolized directly in the liver via portal vein). Type 1 diabetes: ketogenic effect may raise diabetic-ketoacidosis (DKA) risk — monitor. Carbon-chain composition matters: C12 (lauric) behaves more like LCT with far lower ketogenic efficiency than C8, so \"MCT/ketogenic\" framing requires C8/C10 disclosure. Lipid note: meta-analysis (McKenzie 2021) found no significant LDL-C/HDL-C change but a triglyceride increase — present honestly.",
  "regulatory": {
    "fda": "GRAS (GRN 1049 · Medium-chain triacylglycerols · 2022 · no questions); DSHEA dietary supplement / functional food; structure-function claims used in US market; ~305 DSLD products (median 3000 mg softgel · 15 mL liquid serving). No FDA authorized/qualified health claim for MCT.",
    "efsa": "0 authorized health claims — EFSA rejected 3 Art.13(1) claims (weight management / energy expenditure / body-fat reduction) in 2011 (EFSA Journal 2011;9(6):2240). Legal food ingredient (no Novel Food barrier) but no permitted health claim.",
    "anvisa": "Permitted as a fat source in foods and dietary supplements (RDC 243/2018 framework); long history in enteral/medical nutrition (FSMP). Functional claims assessed case-by-case; no standing MCT-specific authorized functional claim."
  },
  "authorized_claims": [],
  "ingredient_hub_url": "https://asxan.ai/ingredients/mct/",
  "related_goal_slugs": [
    "weight-management"
  ],
  "related_lifestyle_slugs": [
    "keto"
  ],
  "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-13",
  "schema_version": "nc-public-v0.2",
  "api_version": "nc-public-v0.3",
  "_meta": {
    "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-13",
    "ip_axes_disclosed": {
      "public_axes": [
        "mechanism",
        "target",
        "use_case",
        "body_system",
        "evidence_tier",
        "dosage_range",
        "safety_notes",
        "regulatory",
        "authorized_claims"
      ],
      "ip_axes_not_exposed": [
        "proprietary_formula_ratios",
        "clinical_protocol_internals",
        "rnd_pipeline_compounds",
        "supplier_specific_grade_specifications",
        "unpublished_endpoint_data"
      ],
      "rationale": "asxan.ai surfaces the educational, evidence-tier-disclosed slice. Formula composition, clinical-protocol internals, and RnD pipeline data are intentionally outside this public surface."
    }
  }
}