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mct oil bodybuilding

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Posted by Paul

what is mct oil? Is mct oild good for bodybuilders?

Re: mct oil bodybuilding

Posted by Swastik

Medium Chain Triglycerides, known as MCTs, supply energy directly to intestinal cells improving all gut functions, especially protein metabolism. MCTs supply 8.3 calories per gram (1 Tablespoon = 116 kcal) yet cannot be stored as body fat like regular fats and carbohydrates. What makes MCTs different than other oils is that the size of the molecule (made up of fatty acids with lengths of 8 and 10 carbon atoms as opposed to the 16 and 18 carbons common to most fatty acids that constitute dietary triglycerides), allows for the fatty acid to be hydrolyzed (broken down) more rapidly by small amounts of intestinal lipase instead of pancreatic lipase for digestion.

The products of this digestion or breakdown are easily dispersed and absorbed in the absence of bile acids. MCTs are able to enter the portal venous blood for direct transport to the liver without being resynthesized into triglycerides. They go right into the blood stream where they can be used immediately for energy. This is why body builders began to use MCTs some time ago. It allows them to follow a low carbohydrate diet before a competition and ensures plenty of energy to train hard while getting very lean or "shredded."

Many bodybuilders use MCTs as an energy source. The popularity of this supplement stems from its rapid oxidation and lower proclivity to winding up as stored fat. This is true despite the fact that MCT oil contains 8-10 carbons and is therefore a saturated fat.

But unlike most forms of fat, MCTs are rapidly absorbed, and when taken in smaller amounts, they don't require carnitine for transport in the mitochondria portion of cells, where fat is burned. Also, MCTs provide 8.3 calories per gram, compared with an average of nine calories per gram for other fats.

MCTs also tend to rapidly convert into intermediate byproducts of fat metabolism called ketones. The significance here is that ketones are a usable form of energy for individuals on low-carb or low-calorie diets. As such, they spare vital muscle protein, obviously advantageous during dieting.

A recent study compared MCTs to long-chain fats (such as those found in polyunsaturated oils like vegetable or flax) for their ability to increase performance during weight training. Male subjects in the study consumed 30 milliliters of either MCTs or long-chain triglycerides (ICTs). The subjects were tested after performing squats; any differences between the two fat sources on work output were noted. While the MCTs didn't produce a noticeable advantage in total work output, the subjects did experience slightly less fatigue when taking MCTs than they did when using MCTs.

While the study didn't discuss the mechanism behind this MCT-based advantage, the implication is that it was probably due to the MCTs' absorption rate, which is faster than the ICTs'. On the other hand, MCTs are also said to inhibit fat oxidation during low-carb diets, because the body burns supplemented MCTs in preference to saturated bodyfat. For this reason, it seems to make more physiological sense to consume MCT supplements during high-carbohydrate conditions.

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