1. The digestion speed (that is, the hydrolysis speed) is fast
Triglycerides are mainly in the small intestine. They are emulsified into small colloidal droplets by the action of bile acids. Under the action of pancreatic lipase, they are hydrolyzed into two molecules of fatty acids and one molecule of monoglycerides. Uptake by epithelial cells.
Due to the relatively strong hydrophilicity of medium-chain triglycerides, the emulsified colloidal droplets formed are smaller, and fewer emulsifiers (ie, bile acids) are required, so the hydrolysis reaction is more likely to occur. In other words, the digestion rate of medium-chain triglycerides is faster than that of long-chain triglycerides.
2. Fast absorption
Medium-chain fatty acids can be directly absorbed from the intestinal epithelial cells in just a few minutes, and then enter the blood circulation through the hepatic portal vein.
The long-chain fatty acids must recombine with glycerol in the intestinal epithelial cells to form triglycerides, and then form chylomicrons with apolipoproteins, phospholipids and cholesterol, and then enter the blood circulation through the lymphatic system, which takes 3 to 4 hours to complete . Therefore, medium-chain triglycerides are absorbed faster than long-chain triglycerides and are a nutrient that can quickly provide energy.
3. Quickly generate energy
In liver and muscle tissue, fatty acid catabolism is carried out in the mitochondria of cells. Unlike long-chain fatty acids, medium-chain fatty acids can enter mitochondria without being transported by the L-carnitine shuttle system. In other words, their catabolism is not restricted by the L-carnitine shuttle system.
As a result, medium-chain fatty acids are more susceptible to oxidation than long-chain fatty acids, and can provide heat at any time and are not easily stored. In addition, because the chains of medium-chain fatty acids are relatively short, they cannot be used as structural materials for fat cells before the metabolic reaction of extending the carbon chain occurs.