Can medium-chain fatty acids pass the blood-brain barrier?

People often ask what the difference is between regular MCT oil, Bulletproof XCT and Brain Octane.

The difference is made by the different fatty acids it contains. All the oils mentioned contain medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).

– MCT ? Fatty acids with chain length C8, C10, C12
– “XCT” ? C8, C10
– “Brain Octane” ? C8

Apparently, the C8 fatty acid (called octanoate or octanoic acid / caprylic acid) is the only medium-chain fatty acid that can pass through the blood-brain barrier and act as an additional energy carrier for brain cells, without the detour via ketone body formation.

The other medium-chain fatty acids are first metabolized to ketone bodies and can then be available to the brain as an energy source.

Always stay up to date with our Newsletter.

Literature:

“Energy Contribution of Octanoate to Intact Rat Brain Metabolism Measured by 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ” https://www.jneurosci.org/content/23/13/5928.full

Brain uptake and metabolism of [1-11C]octanoate in rats: pharmacokinetic basis for its application as a radiopharmaceutical for studying brain fatty acid metabolism. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/8534586/

Photo: Shutterstock.com / vitstudio

This article was written by

Marina Lommel

Marina gründete Foodpunk nach ihrem Abschluss in Ernährungswissenschaften und ist aktuell CEO des Unternehmens. Während ihres Studiums arbeitete sie in verschiedenen Bereichen, darunter in der Wissenschaftsredaktion beim Radio, Redaktion beim TV und Uni-Wissensmagazin sowie im Labor am DZNE in der Parkinsonforschung. Marina ist außerdem Autorin von 5 ernährungswissenschaftlichen Sachbüchern.

Similar posts by Foodpunk

11 minutes reading time

Bulletproof Coffee – what does the butter in the coffee do?

Butter coffee - aka Bulletproof Coffee - is on everyone's lips. What's the hype about? And how do you make Bulletproof Coffee?

3 minutes reading time

Do only calories really count?

Proper nutrition has such an effect on us that I think it's a shame how often the influence of nutrition is left out of disease treatments.

Abbildung Zellen unseres Immunsystems / Illustration Cells of our immune system

6 minutes reading time

Anti-inflammatory effect of a ketogenic diet

In several of our articles we talk about the anti-inflammatory effect of the keto diet, here you will learn how it comes to this effect.

22 minutes reading time

All about intermittent fasting

For whom is it suitable? For whom not? What is there to consider? In this article we clarify!

3 minutes reading time

What actually is Jerusalem artichoke? – The daily bite of knowledge

Topinam...what?? While the average German has never heard of this plant with the strange name, Jerusalem artichoke is now widely used in low carb circles.

3 minutes reading time

Your skin eats with you! – The daily bite of knowledge

Have you ever thought about the substances you put on your skin every day? They should not be underestimated, because the skin eats with you.

A woman is lying down with her blanket pulled up over her nose.

3 minutes reading time

Slim in your sleep

Do you know why sleep is also important for losing weight and too little sleep is bad for you? Here we explain it to you!

Salmon, avocado, almonds, and many other healthy sources of omega-3 fatty acids

13 minutes reading time

All about omega-3 fatty acids

I'm sure you've heard about the importance of omega-3 fatty acids, perhaps pay attention to eating fatty sea fish or even take fish oil capsules. But why exactly are omega-3 fatty acids relevant for the body?

Coffee and half a coconut, next to it a wooden spoon with coconut oil

8 minutes reading time

What is this Bulletproof diet anyway?

The Bulletproof diet is a high-fat diet, based on the Paleo diet.

Back to overview