Our BIO PLANÈTE Coconut Oil is a natural unrefined Coconut Oil containing approx. 10 % MCTs (caprylic, capric and capronic acids; chain length 6 to 10 carbon atoms). MCTs are metabolised differently compared to longer fatty acids and are used more effectively for energy (not as an adipose store), making them interesting for parenteral nutrition in treatment and for ketogenic diets and athletes.

Pure MCT oils are mostly fractions of the three MCT fatty acids obtained from Coconut Oil. It is hoped that the high MCT concentration will bring benefits, but there is no evidence for this. On the contrary: high amounts of isolated MCTs can lead to digestive issues (this has not been observed with coconut oil, as very much higher amounts would be needed).

Lauric acid (12 carbon atoms) is often counted as one of the MCTs. This is because, according to the classification used by chemists, they are “medium-chain fatty acids”. Biochemically speaking, however, lauric acid is metabolised very differently from the three shorter MCTs, so it cannot be said to have the same effect (and pure MCT oils do not contain lauric acid).