Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) have positive effects on premature infants in promoting fat metabolism, promoting intestinal absorption, resisting pathogenic bacteria, and having antioxidant properties.
Preterm infants generally refer to newborns whose gestational age at birth is less than 37 weeks. Newly born premature babies face problems such as low birth weight, low immune function, weak self-regulation ability, poor adaptability to the environment, and poor digestion ability. Their body weight growth rate is higher than that of full-term infants, and their demand for energy and nutrition is also higher than that of full-term infants. Breast milk is the best choice for ordinary infant feeding, but ordinary infant formula and breast milk cannot meet the nutritional needs of premature infants. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop premature infant formula that meets the needs of premature infants.
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MCT is an esterification product formed by three medium-chain fatty acid molecules and one glycerol molecule. It is mainly found in vegetable oils and fats. It has a high content in coconut oil and palm oil. The current production process mainly uses enzymatic methods to hydrolyze and extract palm oil and other vegetable oils to obtain medium-chain fatty acids, which are then esterified with glycerol to produce medium-chain triglycerides (MCT).
What physiological functions does MCT have?
Promote fat metabolism
50% of the energy of newborns in the early stage comes from fat in food. Due to congenital insufficient development, premature infants have higher energy requirements than full-term infants. Supplementing sufficient energy is the basis for ensuring the normal growth and development of premature infants. L-carnitine is an amino acid-like substance that is an important coenzyme involved in fat metabolism and promotes the conversion of fat into energy. Premature infants have low organ development and poor L-carnitine synthesis ability, making it difficult to meet their own fat metabolism needs, which may lead to premature infants' growth retardation and fat accumulation in the liver.
The metabolism of long-chain triglycerides (LCT) is hydrolyzed into fatty acids in the intestine, and then esterified to produce triglycerides. The triglycerides are emulsified into small particles under the action of bile salts to form chylomicrons. . After being absorbed through the intestines, it passes through the lymphatic system and blood system, and is dispersed into various cells of the body for hydrolysis to produce fatty acids. L-carnitine transports the fatty acids in the cells to the mitochondria to produce energy. Compared with long-chain triglycerides (LCT), MCT has better mutual solubility with water and can be hydrolyzed to produce medium-chain fatty acids more quickly in the intestine. MCT can be directly absorbed by the epithelial cells of the small intestinal mucosa and transported to the liver through the portal vein for decomposition to produce energy. It is almost never stored in the liver or other organs in the form of fat. Its metabolism is 8-10 times faster than long-chain triglycerides without the involvement of L-carnitine. It also makes up for the shortcomings of insufficient bile salt secretion in premature infants.
Clinical trials have proven that infant formula containing MCT can help premature infants with very low birth weight absorb more fat and help grow.
Fight pathogenic bacteria
The intestines of babies are sterile when they are born. The bacterial flora begins to colonize the baby after birth, and the colonization of the infant's intestinal flora is related to the feeding method. Candida is one of the main causes of fungal infections in premature infants, which may cause anemia, meningitis, nerve damage, and death in severe cases. The gastrointestinal tract of premature infants is one of the primary sites for Candida colonization. Studies have found that premature infants consuming formula containing medium-chain triglycerides can effectively reduce intestinal Candida colonization. Studies have pointed out that medium-chain fatty acids, the product of hydrolysis of medium-chain triglycerides, are important mediators of the beneficial health effects of intestinal microbiota. They can help the development and maturation of intestinal epithelial tissue and resist harmful bacteria, and regulate the intestinal flora of infants. Resisting pathogenic bacteria and maintaining intestinal health in infants and young children can not only help infants and young children promote metabolism, but also enhance immunity, reduce gastrointestinal disorders, and reduce the incidence of certain diseases, such as food allergies and enteritis.
In addition, researchers have found that medium-chain triglycerides can reduce the heat resistance of bacteria. It is generally believed that the heat resistance of bacteria is related to moisture. The higher the moisture content in the environment, the lower the heat resistance of the bacteria. The higher the hydrophilicity of the oil in the bacterial growth environment, the lower the heat resistance of the bacteria. The reduced heat resistance of medium-chain triglycerides may be related to its higher hydrophilicity than other lipids.
Promote intestinal absorption
Due to congenital developmental deficiencies, premature infants' weight gain is greater than that of full-term infants. However, due to insufficient vitamins and minerals stored in their bodies and insufficient intestinal development, premature infants have poor nutrient absorption capabilities. Therefore, when designing formula foods for premature infants, consideration should be given to improving the ability of premature infants to digest and absorb corresponding nutrients.
Medium-chain triglycerides are quickly decomposed into medium-chain fatty acids in the infant's intestines. Intestinal epithelial cells can directly use medium-chain fatty acids to generate energy, help intestinal development, and thus promote infant digestion and absorption. In addition, because medium-chain triglycerides can be quickly absorbed by the intestines, the intestinal absorption of fat-soluble vitamins is also significantly improved. Medium-chain triglycerides can also inhibit pathogenic bacteria in the intestines and reduce the competition between pathogenic bacteria and the body for nutrients, thus promoting the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the intestinal tract of premature infants. Medium-chain triglycerides can enhance the intestinal absorption of minerals such as calcium and magnesium and amino acids.
Antioxidant
Newly born premature infants have low immune function, weak self-regulatory ability, and poor adaptability to the environment. Because of their poor digestive ability, they often need parenteral nutrition injections. In this process, premature infants are prone to lipid peroxidation. Medium-chain triglycerides have extremely high antioxidant properties. Modern medicine has clinically proven that the use of medium-chain triglycerides during parenteral nutrition of premature infants can significantly reduce lipid peroxidation in premature infants. Current research also shows that oral administration of medium-chain triglycerides can also play an antioxidant role.
At the same time, the antioxidant properties of medium-chain triglycerides can also prevent the nutritional content of premature infant formula from declining during the shelf life. Because medium-chain triglycerides have good miscibility with water and emulsifying properties, they can better form a stable and uniform dispersion system during the wet production process of premature infant formula.
HSF BIOTECH is a reputable Coconut MCT Oil (click here for more details) supplier in the industry that specializes in providing high-quality MCT Oil products. As a potential customer, you can rely on HSF BIOTECH to offer you products that meet the highest standards of quality.
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