Researchers have found that ingesting MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides)—saturated fatty acids that are 6 to 12 carbons long—can discourage fat storage and encourage fat burning. Coconut oil contains around 60% MCTs, making it the richest dietary source of MCTs, compared with commercial MCT oils which generally contain 100% MCTs. Other findings suggest MCTs may help reduce LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as protect against cardiovascular disease and improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes. In addition, as part of a ketogenic diet, MCTs appear to help prevent seizures in children with epilepsy. Finally, a fairly recent report suggests that MCTs might improve cognitive function in people with suspected Alzheimer’s disease. It's important to note that most of the research into MCT’s health effects has used purified MCT oil and it's unclear whether pure MCT oil has health advantages over natural MCT-rich oils.

Source: Journal of Clinical Lipidology