1. RESEARCH
Effects of Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Weight Loss and Body Composition: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Karen Mumme, PGDipSc
Welma Stonehouse, PhD
Mumme K, Stonehouse W.
J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015;115(2).

2. Inclusion Criteria Exclusion Criteria
RESEARCH
Key criteria used to select studies for a meta-analysis that measured the effects of medium-chain triglycerides on weight loss and body composition
Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Randomized controlled experimental design, either parallel or cross-over published in peer reviewed journal before 31 March 2014
Study duration > 3 weeks
Participants were healthy adults ≥ 18 years
Ad libitum, weight maintaining and reduced calorie diets were included
Interventions were to include C8:0 and C10:0 fatty acids with a control containing a longer chain fatty acids
Any exercise intervention included with dietary intervention
No language restrictions
Mumme K, Stonehouse W.
J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015;115(2).

3. Data extraction and synthesis
RESEARCH
Key quality appraisal, data extraction and synthesis methods for a meta-analysis that measured the effects of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) on weight loss and body composition
Quality appraisal
A bias assessment was performed following the Cochrane risk of bias assessmenta to assess the validity of studies
Data extraction and synthesis
Estimated mean (95% CI) differences in body weight and fat mass between MCT and control groups were calculated from mean ± SD changes. Where the standard deviation was imputed a sensitivity analysis was undertaken to assess the influence of imputed data
Sub group analyses were conducted to determine whether sex, baseline body weight status, length of intervention or dosage affected the outcomes. Additionally a post hoc analysis was done for commercial bias
aHiggins J, Green S, eds. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Version Oxford, England: The Cochrane Collaboration; 2011
Mumme K, Stonehouse W.
J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015;115(2).

4. Figure 1. Quality assessment of studies
RESEARCH
Figure 1. Quality assessment of studies
The meta-analysis consisted of
13 studies containing 749 healthy adult participants
Mumme K, Stonehouse W.
J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015;115(2).

5. RESEARCH
Figure 2. Forest plot showing changes in body weight (in kilograms) in trials comparing dietary medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) with a longer-chain triglyceride (control) shows a favorable effect of MCT intervention on body weight
. *Oleic acid as control **Myristic acid as control. #Body mass index <23. ##Body mass ≥23. CI=confidence interval. IV=inverse variance. SD=standard deviation
Mumme K, Stonehouse W.
J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015;115(2).

6. Similar small positive effects were also seen in
RESEARCH
Further results from a meta-analysis that measured the effects of medium-chain triglycerides on weight loss and body composition
Similar small positive effects were also seen in
waist circumference (-1.46 cm [95%CI to cm], P<0.001)
hip circumference (-0.79 cm [95%CI to cm], P=0.002)
total body fat (standard mean difference [95%CI to -0.22], P<0.001
total subcutaneous fat (standard mean difference [95%CI to -0.27], P<0.001
visceral fat (standard mean difference [95%CI to -0.34], P<0.001
Publication bias was not evident in body weight (Egger P=0.35) and total body fat (P=0.05) and not able to be measured in other outcomes due to low study numbers
Sub-group analysis resulted in greater weight loss where
study duration ≥ 12 weeks (P=0.004)
doses <8% energy compared with >16% energy (P=0.03)
study showed commercial bias (P=0.001)
Mumme K, Stonehouse W.
J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015;115(2).

7. inadequate reporting makes assessment of bias in each study difficult
RESEARCH
Conclusions from a meta-analysis that measured the effects of medium-chain triglycerides on weight loss and body composition
Replacement of long-chain triglycerides with medium-chain triglycerides in the diet, could potentially induce modest reductions in body mass and composition.
However,
inadequate reporting makes assessment of bias in each study difficult
although heterogeneity was absent (except body weight was moderate), study designs varied with regard to design, dose, duration and level and control of energy intake
6/13 studies contained commercial bias
Mumme K, Stonehouse W.
J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015;115(2).

8. Further research is required
Future direction from a meta-analysis that measured the effects of medium-chain triglycerides on weight loss and body composition
Further research is required
by independent research groups using large, robustly designed studies of sufficient duration (at least 12 weeks)
with different MCT doses in different food matrixes
with different populations
with different body weight status groups (normal weight vs overweight/obese)
by sex and age groups also capturing pre- and postmenopausal women
on the effect of MCT on the fat:lean mass particularly in weight loss studies and older adults
on the long-term safety of MCT-enriched foods
Mumme K, Stonehouse W.
J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015;115(2).