Medium-chain triglycerides may improve memory in non-demented older adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials



Giannos, Panagiotis, Prokopidis, Konstantinos ORCID: 0000-0002-6264-9388, Lidoriki, Irene, Triantafyllidis, Konstantinos K, Kechagias, Konstantinos S, Celoch, Kamil, Candow, Darren G, Ostojic, Sergej M and Forbes, Scott C
(2022) Medium-chain triglycerides may improve memory in non-demented older adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. BMC GERIATRICS, 22 (1). 817-.

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Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Ketosis has been exploited for its neuroprotective impact and treatment of neurological conditions via ketone production. Exogenous medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) supplementation may induce nutritional ketosis. The aim of this systematic review is to explore the effects of MCTs on memory function in older adults without cognitive impairment.<h4>Methods</h4>A systematic literature search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science was employed from inception until April 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, investigating the impact of MCT oils on components of memory. Risk of bias (RoB2) tool was utilized for quality assessment.<h4>Results</h4>Six trials were included for qualitative synthesis, in which two studies examined the effect of MCTs through a ketogenic meal. MCT supplementation compared to controls was associated with improved indices of memory function in 4 out of 6 studies, particularly working memory. A meta-analysis was not employed due to the low number of studies, therefore, a true effect measure of MCT supplementation was not explored.<h4>Conclusions</h4>MCT supplementation may enhance working memory in non-demented older adults. These effects may be more prominent in individuals with lower baseline scores, from short and long-term supplementation. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings in terms of optimal dose and MCTs composition, which may protect from memory decline during aging.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Medium-chain triglycerides, Nutritional ketosis, Cognitive function, Memory, Non-demented
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 31 Oct 2022 08:32
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2023 19:48
DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03521-6
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3165870