Unived MCT Beet-216

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) is triglycerides composed of a glycerol back bone and three fatty acids that have an aliphatic tail of 6–10 carbon atoms[1] MCT exists in natural foods with high percentage found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, desiccated coconut, and raw coconut meat  

How is it digested? 

Medium-Chain Triacylglycerols (MCTs), which typically contain fatty acids with chain lengths of ≤10 carbon atoms, are processed differently from long-chain triacylglycerols (LCTs) by the body[2]. Because of their chain length, medium-chain fatty acids can be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and transported to the liver via the portal circulation without incorporation into chylomicrons. As a result, it is hypothesized that MCTs are oxidized to a greater extent than are LCTs and have less opportunity for deposition into adipose tissue. Unlike long chain triglycerides (LCT), MCT will be broken down into glycerol and medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which will be directly absorbed into the blood stream and thereby transported to the target organs 

Why is it necessary? 

It has been shown that MCT plays a role in lowering weight, and decreasing metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity and inflammation2. MCTs provide about ten percent fewer calories than LCTs – 8.3 calories per gram for MCTs versus 9 calories per gram for LCTs1. More importantly, reduced chain length also means that MCTs are more rapidly absorbed by the body and more quickly metabolized (burned) as fuel1. The result of this accelerated metabolic conversion is that instead of being stored as fat, the calories contained in MCTs are very efficiently converted into fuel for immediate use by organs and muscles. MCTs are thus a good choice for anyone who has increased energy needs, as following major surgery, during normal or stunted growth, to enhance athletic performance, and to counteract the decreased energy production that results from aging. 

Glycogen sparing action –  

• A single study demonstrated a positive effect from MCT supplementation. After intake of 45 grams of MCT, there was a proven reduction of glycogen oxidation rate[3]. 
• Both carbohydrate and MCT intake prevented glucose serum levels to fall, which typically occurs in longer-lasting exercises3. 
• In another study, a double-blind, crossed supplementation model was used to determine MCT effect on the utilization of muscle glycogen. It was noted that MCT supplementation did not differ from carbohydrate in glycogen content after 180 minutes of exercise at 61% of VO2max in ergometric cycle3. 

Source of energy –  

• Jeukendrup et al.41 gave MCT supplement to athletes, in order to raise their serum concentration of fatty acids and, therefore, enhance their oxidation. Results showed that during exercise performed in ergometric cycle at 57% of VO2max for 180 minutes, MCT oxidation rate, when associated to glucose, reached 72% of the intake amount. It was thus shown that MCT is an alternative source of energy for exercising3. 
• In recent years MCTs have gained in popularity with athletes seeking to increase energy levels and enhance endurance during high-intensity exercise, as well as serving as an alternative energy source for athletes on high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets.1 

Aid appetite control & weight management

• MCTs seem to offer a triple approach to weight loss:

• • they have a lower calorie content than other fats (LCT), 
  • they are minimally stored as fat,   
  • MCTs have been shown to enhance thermogenesis and contribute to enhanced metabolism to burn even more calories. 
• Caloric consumption was significantly lower on the high MCT diet1. 
• Calorie-restricted diets are often associated with marked declines in energy. A number of studies support the benefits of using MCTs in weight loss programs to boost energy levels and increase fatty acid metabolism to aid in reducing fat deposits and produce ketone bodies, Ketones are also one of the two substances which the brain can utilize for energy1. 

Supports healthy lipid metabolism and prevents metabolic derangements 

• MCTs reduce levels of cholesterol in the liver and other tissues1. 
• MCTs have also been reported to act as antioxidants and reduce tissue requirements for Vitamin E1. 
• MCTs have a slight hypoglycemic (blood glucose-lowering) effect, and thus may be useful for diabetics, or anyone with a tendency for pre-diabetes1. 

MCTs have proven useful in treating a number of medical disorders that involve impaired or damaged lipid (fat) metabolism. Thus, MCTs can be a useful addition to the diet of those suffering from any form of malnutrition or tissue wasting.  

Athletic performance 

• MCTs are an especially beneficial supplement for fueling physical exertion, given their high energy density content, rapid rate of absorption and quick metabolic conversion into cellular energy1.  
• Additionally MCTs can be quickly mobilized in the post-exercise recovery phase to rebuild muscles and prevent the breakdown of proteins (catabolism) that can occur when the body is putting a maximum demand on the body’s energy reserves1. 

An ingredient that helps with blood flow to the muscles while supporting oxygen uptake by the muscles is ideal for sports performance. We use a standardized beetroot extract developed to support endurance & performance and it provides a high concentration of natural dietary nitrate. It is manufactured using a proprietary process to obtain a high potency extract with minimal oxalate content. Naturally low in calories, beetroots are a great source of nutrients, including fiber, folate and vitamin C. They also contain nitrates and pigments that may help lower blood pressure and improve athletic performance. 

On an average, 100g of raw beets contains 250-300mg dietary nitrate, i.e. 0.25% – 0.3% only. The Beetroot extract we use is derived from Non-GMO beetroots, grown sustainably in the southern region of India, manufactured through an aqueous extraction process and standardized to 6.5% nitrate content.  

Beetroot increases levels of nitric oxide (NO), which serves multiple functions related to increased blood flow, gas exchange, mitochondrial biogenesis and efficiency, and strengthening of muscle contraction. These biomarker improvements indicate that supplementation with beetroot juice could have ergogenic effects on cardiorespiratory endurance that would benefit athletic performance. 

• Once ingested, the nitrate (NO3–) is reduced to nitrite (NO2–), by anaerobic bacteria in the oral cavity by the action of nitrate reductase enzymes and then to nitric oxide (NO) in the stomach. This physiological mechanism depends on the entero-salivary circulation of inorganic nitrate without involving NOS activity[4].  
• Once in the acidic stomach, nitrite is instantly decomposed to convert to NO and other nitrogen oxides performing determinant physiological functions. Nitrate and remaining nitrite is absorbed from the intestine into the circulation, which can become bioactive NO in tissues and blood under physiological hypoxia4. 
• NO induces several physiological mechanisms that influence O2 utilization during contraction skeletal muscle. Physiological mechanisms for NO2– reduction are facilitated by hypoxic conditions; therefore, NO (vasodilator) is produced in those parts of muscle that are consuming or in need of more O2. This mechanism would allow local blood flow to adapt to O2 requirement, providing within skeletal muscle an adequate homogeneous distribution. This physiological response could be positive in terms of muscle function during exercise improving performance4. 
• Nitric oxide, being a major vasodialator that can increase blood flow to muscles and promote oxygen transfer in the muscle. Additional physiological benefits of NO include improved mitochondrial efficiency and glucose uptake in muscle and enhanced muscle contraction and relaxation processes4. 
• It is known that NO has an important role in the adaptation processes under hypoxic conditions, the vasodilatory effects of NO may favor oxygen delivery, and supplementation with beetroot juice could be effective in reducing the ergolytic effects of hypoxia on cardiorespiratory endurance4. 

• A study in trained cyclists found that beetroot juice supplementation improves performance by 0.8% in a 50-mile test. These findings suggests that beetroot juice might have an ergogenic effect, increasing performance in prolonged cycling events that require alternations in relative intensity, from moderate to high VO2max, which is very characteristic of the stages of cycling races[5]. 
• NO3 – supplementation increased the capacity for muscle diffusive O2 transport across active muscle sites, as reflected by higher end-exercise deoxy [Hb + Mb] and total [Hb + Mb], which correlated with a lower VO2Sc amplitude. These helps understand the mechanisms by which short-term NO3– supplementation can improve efficiency during continuous submaximal exercise5. 
• It appears that acute supplementation with beetroot juice increases the power output with the same VO2 levels. This is an interesting finding for athletes as there is evidence that the economy is a key factor to improve cardio-respiratory performance increasing energy efficiency in endurance sports modalities. Time to exhaustion at several intensities (60%–100% VO2max, MAP or VT1) is another usual performance parameter that is improved with acute beetroot supplementation5. 
• During the 2-h moderate-intensity exercise bout, plasma [NO2–] declined by ~17% in BR +PL but increased by ~8% in BR+BR such that, at 2 h, plasma [NO2–] was greater in BR+BR than both BR+PL and PL+PL (P<0.05)[6]. 
• VO2 was not different among conditions over the first 90 min of exercise but was lower at 120 min in study group compared to placebo6. 
• The decline in muscle glycogen concentration over the 2-h exercise bout was attenuated in study group (~28% decline) compared with placebo (~44% decline)6. 

Thus Beetroot supplementation before and during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise attenuated the progressive rise in VO2 over time and appeared to reduce muscle glycogen depletion6. 

[1] Ward Dean, “Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs), Beneficial Effects on Energy, Atherosclerosis and Aging”, NutritionReview.org – April 22, 2013. https://nutritionreview.org/2013/04/medium-chain-triglycerides-mcts/ 

[2] St-Onge MP, Bosarge A. Weight-loss diet that includes consumption of medium-chain triacylglycerol oil leads to a greater rate of weight and fat mass loss than does olive oil. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87(3):621-626. doi:10.1093/ajcn/87.3.621 

[3] Rodrigo Vitasovic Gomes and Marcelo Saldanha Aoki, “Does medium chain triglyceride play an ergogenic role in endurance exercise performance?”, Rev Bras Med Esporte Vol. 9, N 3 – Mai/Jun, 2003 

[4] Raúl Domínguez, et. al., “Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Cardiorespiratory Endurance in Athletes. A Systematic Review”, Nutrients 2017, 9, 43; doi:10.3390/nu9010043 

[5] Brynmor C. Breese, et. al., “The effect of dietary nitrate supplementation on the spatial heterogeneity of quadriceps deoxygenation during heavy-intensity cycling”, Physiol Rep, 5 (14), 2017, e13340, 

[6] Rachel Tan, et. al., “Beetroot juice ingestion during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise attenuates progressive rise in O2 uptake”, J Appl Physiol 124: 1254–1263, 2018.