MCT>>> Muscle Milk - JP Fitness Forums

coulditbe · 10-08-2003, 06:27 PM

I know there are some members here who use Muscle Milk. If I remeber correctly, MCT were a primary benefit of MM..

Jeff Volek posted the following. Thought I would pass this information along.

MCT may be beneficial

Some interesting research has come out on medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) that I thought I'd share. The fats (triglycerides) in our diet are made up of fatty acids that are different in length, which is based on the number of carbon atoms. Most fats are what we refer to as long-chain triglycerides (LCT) that vary in length from about 14 to 18 carbons. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) are 6-12 carbons in length and have been shown to be metabolized completely different than LCT and have different effects in the body. Several animal and human studies have shown that compared with LCT, MCT increase burning of fat, increase energy expenditure, decrease hunger, and decrease body fat. A very recent study showed that a 28-day diet rich in MCT resulted in greater reductions in upper body fat, increased resting energy expenditure, and increased fat oxidation compared to a diet rich in LCT. MCT are certainly not a magic bullet but could possibly be used as part of a good diet and exercise program to stimulate fat burning and facilitate weight loss. A word of caution - MCT should be used in relatively small doses to avoid some not so pleasant GI side effects.

References

St-Onge MP, Jones PJ. Physiological effects of medium-chain triglycerides: potential agents in the prevention of obesity. J Nutr. 2002 Mar;132(3):329-32.

St-Onge MP, Lamarche B, Mauger JF, Jones PJ. Consumption of a functional oil rich in phytosterols and medium-chain triglyceride oil improves plasma lipid profiles in men. J Nutr. 2003 Jun;133(6):1815-20.
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Jeff S. Volek, PhD, RD, FACN

http://forums.menshealth.com/thread....5&thread=80442

poopy pants · 10-08-2003, 07:36 PM

I'd be interested to hear bryanc's et al thoughts in this article/research.

bryanc · 10-09-2003, 11:50 AM

I think I already reviewed that second one before. It's in the bryanc-your thoughts on these studies thread, I think. The first one is just a review article, and given the quality of research I've seen so far in the area of MCTs, it's difficult to draw any definitive conclusions about its benefit or harm. Remember that that second article is NOT looking at MCTs alone, but in combination _with_ the other phytosterols. So you can't generalize the results of that study to products that have _only_ MCTs without the phytosterols in them.

bryanc · 10-09-2003, 02:14 PM

Sorry, I had meant to add the following to that last sentence:

I don't know what's in Muscle Milk, but if it's relying on MCT's to minimize or alter fat accumulation, I think it's worthwhile to note that MCTs have also been associated with increased lipid profiles--which is why the St. Onge study was done in the first place; to see if the addition of those phytosterols would counteract the negative lipid effects of MCTs while preserving the fat-affecting effects of MCTs. It's interesting that Dr. Volek would choose to cite that particular study, since the fat measurements were pretty convoluted. It was pretty questionnable whether St. Onge et al could make _any_ statements about fat differences between the groups with that data.

vin · 10-09-2003, 02:41 PM

Hm. Jeff Volek vs BryanC...
I'd pay for that one!
Perhaps I'll get my wish...
http://forums.menshealth.com/thread....5&thread=80442

bryanc · 10-09-2003, 02:49 PM

Yeah, I'm not sure I'm up for that. I saw Dr. Volek speak at ACSM about low carb diets and even asked him a question, but unfortunately, he was more current on his literature than I was (there were 2 studies published on the Atkin's Diet 2 weeks before ACSM that I couldn't get a hold of in time).

Besides, I'm just a lowly grad student with no credibility. That, and it's probably just rude to attack someone on his/her own board (which I consider the Belly-off forum to be for Dr. Volek).