Evidence supporting the use of: Medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
For the health condition: Alzheimer's Disease

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) have been investigated as a potential supportive therapy for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) due to their ability to provide an alternative energy source for the brain. In AD, there is evidence of impaired glucose metabolism in the brain, leading to reduced energy availability for neurons. MCTs are metabolized in the liver into ketone bodies, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and serve as an alternative fuel for brain cells when glucose utilization is compromised.

Clinical studies evaluating MCT supplementation in AD have shown modest benefits. For example, a randomized controlled trial published in 2004 (Reger et al.) demonstrated that MCT administration led to improved cognitive performance in some patients with mild to moderate AD, particularly in those who did not carry the APOE4 allele. Other studies, such as those using the medical food Axona (a proprietary MCT formulation), have reported small improvements in memory and cognition in select subgroups of AD patients. However, the overall body of evidence is limited by small sample sizes, short study durations, and inconsistent results across trials.

Current scientific consensus is that while MCTs may offer symptomatic support for some individuals with AD, particularly in the early stages or in non-APOE4 carriers, the evidence base is not robust enough to recommend MCTs as a standard or primary therapy. More large-scale, long-term studies are needed to clarify their effectiveness and safety in this population.

More about medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
More about Alzheimer's Disease

Other ingredients used for Alzheimer's Disease

2-(carbamimidoyl-methyl-amino) ethoxyphosphonic acid
7,14-Hydroxy-Docosapentaenoic Acid
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
Acacetin
Acai berry
Acetyl L-carnitine
Acetylcholine
Agmatine
Akkermansia muciniphila
Algae
algal oil
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
alpha-lipoic acid
amentoflavone
amino acids
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
ampelopsin
aniracetam
anserine
anthocyanins
apigenin
apocynin
Aronia melanocarpa
ashwagandha
astaxanthin
astragaloside
avocado
Bacopa
Bacopin
bacoside
baicalein
baicalin
Basidiomycota
benfotiamine
berberine
beta caryophyllene
beta-hydroxybutyrate
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium longum
bilobalide
black garlic
black seed
black tea
blueberry
brahmi
broccoli
butylphthalide
butyrate triglyceride
butyric acid
C-phycocyanin
caffeic Acid
caffeine
Camellia sinensis
cannabigerol
Cannabis sativa oil
caprylic acid
carnosic acid
Carnosine
caryophyllene
catalpol
catechins
centrophenoxine
Chinese Ligustrum berry
Chinese salvia root
chokeberry
choline
Cinnamomum
cinnamon
cistanche
citicoline
cocoa
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Convolvulus prostratus
creatine
crocetin
crocin
Curcuma
curcumen
curcumin
Curcuminoid
cyanidin
cyclodextrin
cytidine
d-alpha tocopherol
decursin
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
dihydrolipoic acid
docosahexaenoic Acid
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
Ecklonia
eicosapentaenoic acid
ellagic acid
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
epicatechin
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
ergothioneine
estrogen
fatty acids
ferulic acid
fisetin
fish
fish oil
fish protein
flavanols
flavanones
flavans
flavones
flavonoids
flavonols
flavonones
fo-ti
fungus
galantamine
gallate
gallic acid
gamma tocopherol
ganoderma
garcinol
gastrodia
gastrodin
genistein
ginkgetin
ginkgo biloba
ginkgo flavone glycoside
ginkgoheteroside
ginkgolides
Ginkgoside
ginseng
Ginsenosides
Glucoraphanin
glycerophosphocholine (GPC)
grape
green tea
Gypenoside
hemp
hemp oil
herbal blend (proprietary)
Hericenones
hericium mushroom
hesperetin
hesperidin
Homotaurine
Honokiol
huperzine A
hydroxytyrosol
Hyperoside
icariin
iridoids
isoliquiritigenin
isovitexin
Kaempferol
ketone salts
l-carnitine
L-carnosine
L-serine
L-theanine
Lentinula edodes mycelia
lingzhi
lion's mane
lipids
lutein
luteolin
Lycium
lycopene
magnesium
magnolol
malvidin
mangiferin
Marine fat
Marine lipid
Maslinic acid
Matcha
medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
Melatonin
Methoxylated flavones
Methylcobalamin
Monoterpenes
Monounsaturated fat
Morus
Mulberroside A
Mulberry
Myricetin
Myricitrin
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
NADH
Naringenin
Naringin
Nervonic acid
Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
nicotinamide riboside
Nigella seed
Nobiletin
Norvaline
Oleuropein
olive
omega-3 fatty acids
Osthole
oyster mushroom
paeoniflorin
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
Peptides
phenolic compounds
phosphatidylcholine
phosphatidylserine
phospholipids
Phycocyanin
phytocannabinoids
Phytoestrogens
Piperine
Polydatin
Polygala
polygala root
polymethoxylated flavones
polyphenols
polysaccharides
polyunsaturated fat
pomegranate
pregnenolone
punicalagins
Pycnogenol
pyrroloquinoline disodium salt
pyrroloquinoline quinone
quercetin
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
rhizome
rosemary
rosmarinic acid
royal jelly
S-allylcysteine
saffron
Safranal
sage
Salidroside
Salmon Oil
Salvianolic acid
SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
Sarcosine
Schisandrins
Schizochytrium
Schizochytrium Oil
selenium
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Shankhpushpi
Shilajit
Shogaol
Solanaceae
Soy
soy isoflavones
Stilbenoid
Sulforaphane
sulforaphane glucosinolate
Syringic acid
Tangeretin
Taurine
Taxifolin
terpene lactones
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Theaflavin
Tinospora cordifolia
tocotrienols
Trans-pterostilbene
Trehalose
Tremella
tributyrin
Triterpenes
Tumerone
turmeric
Turmerones
ubiquinol
Uncaria
Uridine
Urolithin A
Ursolic Acid
Vinpocetine
vitamin B
vitamin B12
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
vitamin E
Walnut
Withanolides
Wogonin
Xanthohumol
Xanthophyll
Xylaria nigripes
β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)

Products containing medium chain triglycerides (MCT)

Designs For Health ADK-Evail™
Metagenics Axis Endo™ Mango
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Chai
Metagenics Clear Change 10-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus pH Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Pineapple Banana
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear Plus Vanilla
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Berry
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Chai
Metagenics Clear Change 28-Day Detox Program with UltraClear RENEW Vanilla
Designs For Health Collagen + MCT
Metagenics CoQ10 ST®-100 mg
Metagenics CoQ10 ST-100 mg
Metagenics CoQ10 ST-200 mg
Designs For Health CoQnol™ 100mg
Designs For Health Digestzymes™
Designs For Health DIM-Evail™
Metagenics GI Sustain™ Powder
Designs For Health Hi-Po Emulsi-D3™
Metagenics Ketogenic Shake Chocolate
Klean Athlete Klean Omega ™
Douglas Laboratories MCT/Butyrate Liquid with SunButyrate™
Metagenics MCT Powder
Thorne MediClear Plus
Metagenics MetaKids Nutrition Powder Chocolate
Metagenics MetaKids Nutrition Powder Vanilla
Metagenics MetaKids Vitamin D3 Liquid
Metagenics Perfect Protein Whey Chocolate
Metagenics Perfect Protein Whey Vanilla
Metagenics Phosphatidylserine
Metagenics SpectraZyme® Complete
Metagenics SpectraZyme Complete
Vitabase Super Fat Burner
Metagenics Testralin®
Metagenics UltraClear Detox Powder
Metagenics UltraClear Plus® Detox Powder
Metagenics UltraClear Plus Detox Powder Berry
Metagenics UltraClear Plus Detox Powder Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraClear Plus pH Detox Powder Pineapple/Banana
Metagenics UltraClear Plus pH Detox Powder Vanilla
Metagenics UltraClear RENEW Detox Powder Berry
Metagenics UltraClear RENEW Detox Powder Chai
Metagenics UltraClear RENEW Detox Powder Vanilla
Metagenics Vitamin D3 10,000 + K
Metagenics Vitamin D3 5000 + K
Metagenics Vitamin D3 Liquid
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Brain Health Daily Packs