Know Thy Oil: Virgin Coconut Oil and MCT - Are they the Same?
Virgin Coconut Oil and MCT: Are they the Same?
Key Points : Virgin Coconut Oil and MCT Oils
Virgin Coconut Oil has up to 50% lauric acid content and may be the better immune booster vs lipid (fat) coated viruses.- MCT Oils because of its predominant C10 and C8 fatty acids are better for a quick energy boost because of immediate production of ketones when oil is ingested.
- Virgin Coconut Oil is an all natural product; MCT Oils are synthetic or synthesized oils.
- Virgin Coconut Oil retains its coconut "nutty" taste and aroma as its extracted from fresh coconuts without any chemical refining.
- MCT Oils are designed and manufactured to be odorless and without taste.
- Virgin Coconut Oil has the same level of effectiveness and action whether its in solid or liquid form.
- MCT Oils tend to remain liquid at cooler temperatures because of the lower melting point of the C10 and C8 MCTs.
How is Virgin Coconut Oil different from MCT Oil products?
Virgin Coconut Oil VCO is an all natural food product obtained either by wet or dry processes from freshly harvested mature coconuts. No chemicals are added or used to manufacture VCO.
MCT Oils with added lauric acid are synthetic or synthesized oils - they go thru a chemical process to extract fractions of fatty acids and put them together in a more or less precise proportion of fatty acids C10, C8 and C12. Most of their raw material feedstock is from either refined coconut oil from copra or from palm kernel oil.
Does Coconut Oil have more lauric Acid than MCT Oil products?
Yes. Pure Coconut Oil such as Virgin Coconut Oil has 45-50% Lauric Acid and up to 20% C10 and C8 MCTs
MCT products are synthesized to consist of 25-30% Lauric acid C12 and 70-75% of C10 Capric and C8 Caprylic acid.
Since these MCT products are synthesized products with patented technology of the manufacturer, their fatty acid composition is not known and are not regulated by a PNS standard similar to Virgin Coconut Oil.
Is Lauric Acid an MCT?
Standard MCTs contain fatty acids C10 Capric and C8 Caprylic which when ingested goes direct to the liver for oxidation. The oxidation produces ketones.
Lauric Acid is unique as it behaves similar to MCTs C10 and C8 but when ingested the lauric free fatty acids circulate for a period of time in the bloodstream before it is oxidized by the liver. This circulation in the bloodstream allows it to encounter infected cells.
Is VCO better than MCT Oils as immune booster against lipid(fat)-coated viruses and bacteria?
As immune booster vs lipid coated viruses and bacteria, pure all natural coconut oil should be more effective because of the 50% lauric acid it contains.
MCT products with added lauric acid contains from 25-30% only.
What are MCT Oils good for?
MCT Oils are mainly used by those who need an immediate energy boost. When MCT Oil is ingested, ketones are produced immediately inside the body when ingested. Ketones are known to promote brain health to alleviate symptoms of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimers, epilepsy etc. and is also reported to be used in cancer therapy.
Does MCT Oils have anti viral effects when ingested into the body?
When ingested, most of the MCT fatty acids (C10 and C8) go direct to the liver for oxidation producing ketones. There is no reported evidence yet of significant antiviral effects of C10 and C8 in Vivo (inside the body). However, in Vitro (outside the body) C10 and C8 fatty acids are reported to have significant anti-microbial action.
MCT products with added lauric acid (25-30%) will have some anti microbial effects vs lipid (fat) coated germs but not in the same level of efficacy as pure coconut oil which has 45-50% lauric acid.
Is it ok that VCO becomes solid at cooler temperature? Is it safe to take when VCO is solid?
Yes, VCO is safe to take whether in solid or liquid form. VCO is not a synthetic oil, it contains a mixture of medium and long chain fatty acids and anti-oxidants such as polyphenols. VCO starts to solidify below 26 Celsius. A tablespoon of solid VCO the moment it touches the mouth , immediately melts, because the mouth temperature is around 35-36 Celsius, 10 degrees higher than the melting temperature.
MCT Oils tend to remain liquid at cooler temperatures because of the lower melting point of the C10 and C8 MCTs.
Why does VCO have an aroma and taste? Why is MCT odorless and without taste?
Virgin Coconut Oil retains its coconut "nutty" taste and aroma as its extracted from fresh coconuts without any chemical refining .MCT Oils are designed and manufactured to be odorless and without taste.
By R. Pacheco, Jr M.Sc. App. Phys.
29 April 2020
References
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