TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of medium chain triglyceride (MCT) supplementation using a C8:C10 ratio of 30:70 on cognitive performance in healthy young adults
AU - Ashton, Jake S.
AU - Roberts, James W.
AU - Wakefield, Caroline J.
AU - Page, Richard M.
AU - MacLaren, Don P.M.
AU - Marwood, Simon
AU - Malone, James J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2021/2/1
Y1 - 2021/2/1
N2 - Purpose
The brain can utilise medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) as an alternative fuel to glucose, and research has shown that MCT ingestion improves cognitive function in diseased and/or elderly individuals. The aim of this study is to determine if these improvements can also be observed in young, healthy adults. Furthermore, we aim to establish the ideal dosage and timeframe necessary for an effect.
Methods
Participants were divided equally into three groups of 10 (Placebo (0 g), 12 g and 18 g MCT/day) and were supplemented for 4 weeks. The supplement had a C8:C10 ratio of 30:70. Participants visited the laboratory once a week for 5 weeks (baseline, test weeks 1–4) to undergo a battery of cognitive tests; Trail Making, Digit Span, Spatial Span, Covert Shift of Attention, and Rapid Visual Information Processing.
Results
After 2–3 weeks of supplementation, MCT ingestion enhanced performance in cognitive tasks, including: Trail Making A/B and Digit Span Forwards/Backwards (ps0.05). There were also null results in tasks measuring attention and reaction time (ps>0.05).
Conclusions
MCT ingestion improved cognitive performance after 2–3 weeks, with minimal difference between taking 12 g and 18 g MCT/day groups, suggesting a possible dose-response threshold at 12 g MCT/day when supplementing over a short period.
AB - Purpose
The brain can utilise medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) as an alternative fuel to glucose, and research has shown that MCT ingestion improves cognitive function in diseased and/or elderly individuals. The aim of this study is to determine if these improvements can also be observed in young, healthy adults. Furthermore, we aim to establish the ideal dosage and timeframe necessary for an effect.
Methods
Participants were divided equally into three groups of 10 (Placebo (0 g), 12 g and 18 g MCT/day) and were supplemented for 4 weeks. The supplement had a C8:C10 ratio of 30:70. Participants visited the laboratory once a week for 5 weeks (baseline, test weeks 1–4) to undergo a battery of cognitive tests; Trail Making, Digit Span, Spatial Span, Covert Shift of Attention, and Rapid Visual Information Processing.
Results
After 2–3 weeks of supplementation, MCT ingestion enhanced performance in cognitive tasks, including: Trail Making A/B and Digit Span Forwards/Backwards (ps0.05). There were also null results in tasks measuring attention and reaction time (ps>0.05).
Conclusions
MCT ingestion improved cognitive performance after 2–3 weeks, with minimal difference between taking 12 g and 18 g MCT/day groups, suggesting a possible dose-response threshold at 12 g MCT/day when supplementing over a short period.
KW - Cognition
KW - MCTs
KW - Processing speed
KW - Task switching
KW - Working Memory
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U2 - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113252
DO - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113252
M3 - Article (journal)
SN - 0031-9384
VL - 229
SP - 113252
JO - Physiology & Behavior
JF - Physiology & Behavior
M1 - 113252
ER -