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What is Caprylic capric triglyceride?
Caprylic capric triglyceride is an ingredient used in soaps and cosmetics. It’s usually made from combining coconut oil with glycerin. This ingredient is sometimes called Caprylic capric triglyceride. It’s also sometimes mistakenly called fractionated coconut oil.
Caprylic capric triglyceride has been widely used for more than 50 years. It helps smooth skin and works as an antioxidant. It also binds other ingredients together, and can work as a preservative of sorts to make the active ingredients in cosmetics last longer.
CAPRYLIC CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE
CAS No. : 73398-61-5 / 65381-09-1
EC No. : 277-452-2 / 265-724-3
Synonyms:
Capric Triglyceride; Caprylic Triglyceride; CCT; caprylic/capric triglyceride; Decanoic acid, ester with 1,2,3-propanetriol octanoate; Glycerides, mixed decanoyl and octanoyl; capryilic capric trigliserid; kaprilik kaprik trigliserit; Tricaprylin; Caprylic acid; Caprylic capric triglyceride; CAPRIC GLYCERIDE; CAPRYLIC CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE; CAPRYLIC/ CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE; CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE; CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC ACID TRIGLYCERIDE; DECANOIC ACID; ESTER WITH 1,2,3-PROPANETRIOL OCTANOATE; Tricaprylin; Trioctanoin; 538-23-8; Tricaprilin; Glycerol tricaprylate; Glycerol trioctanoate; Rato; Caprylin; Trioctanoylglycerol; Maceight; Glyceryl trioctanoate; Propane-1,2,3-triyl trioctanoate; Octanoin, tri-; Glyceryl tricaprylate; Tricaprylic glyceride; Caprylic acid triglyceride; 1,2,3-Tri-n-octanoylglycerol; Axona; Caprylic triglyceride; Trioctanoin oil; Octanoic acid triglyceride; Panacete 800; Octanoic acid, 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester; Tricaprylyl glycerin; Sefsol 800; Glycerol Tri-n-octanoate; NSC 4059; Tricapryloylglycerol; Glycerin tricaprylate; 2,3-di(octanoyloxy)propyl octanoate; 1,2,3-Propanetriol trioctanoate; Caprylic acid, 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester; Octanoic acid, 1,1',1''-(1,2,3-propanetriyl) ester; caprylidene; Tri-n-octanoin; trioctanoylglyceride; CAS-538-23-8; Tricaprilin [JAN]; tricaprylm; Tri-octanoin; HSDB 7829; Emalex KTG; Glycerol trioctanoin; Tricaprylyl glycerol; Miglyol 808; Sefsol 810; Captex 8000; Glycerol trioctanoic acid; Octanoin, tri- (8CI); Tricaprilin (JAN/USAN); DECANOIC ACID, ESTER WITH 1,2,3-PRPANETRIOL OCTANOATE; DECANONIC ACID, ESTER WITH 1,2,3-PROPANETRIOL OCTANOATE; ESTER WITH 1,2,3-PROPANETRIOL OCTANOATE DECANOIC ACID; ESTER WITH 1,2,3-PROPANETRIOL OCTANOATE DECANONIC ACID; ESTER WITH 1,2,3-PRPANETRIOL OCTANOATE DECANOIC ACID; GLYCEROL CALRYLATE CAPRINATE; Tricaprylin ;GLYCEROL CAPRYLATE CAPRINATE; OCTANOIC/DECANOIC ACID TRIGLYCERIDE; kaprilik trigliserit; kaprik trigliserit; kaprilik/ kaprik trigliserit; kaprilik kaprik trigliserit; caprilik caprik trigliserit; caprylik caprik trigliserit; Octanoic decanoic acid triglyceride; Caprylic acid; kaprilik kaprik trigliserit; capric acid triglyceride; kaprilik kaprik trigliserit; Caprylic acid; Caprylic capric triglyceride; capric acid; triglyceride; Glycerol octanoate decanoate; Caprylic capric triglyceride; decanoic acid; glycerol; octanoic acid; Hallstar GC; Liponate GC; Tegosoft CT ; Neobee O; MCT Oil; Myglyol 812; C8-10 Glycerides; Triester F 810; Caprylic acid; capric acid triglyceride; Captex 300; Miglyol 812 N; Glycerides, C8-10; Octanoic/decanoic acid triglyceride; EINECS 265-724-3; EINECS 287-075-5; Caprylic acid, capric acid, triglyceride; 85409-09-2; FT-0623445; CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDES; odo; MEDIUM-CHAINTRIGLYCERIDE; Mixed decanoyl octanoyl glycerides; Caprylic / capric triglyceride; Decanoyl- and octanoyl glycerides; Einecs 277-452-2; Glycerin; mixed triester with caprylic acid and capric acid; CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDES; odo; MEDIUM-CHAINTRIGLYCERIDE; Mixed decanoyl octanoyl glycerides; 1-nonanecarboxylic acid; decanoıc acıd; ester wıth 1,2,3-propanetrıol octanoate; decanoıc acıd, ester wıth 1,2,3-prpanetrıol octanoate; decanonıc acıd; ester wıth 1,2,3-propanetrıol octanoate; glycerol calrylate caprınate; glycerol caprylate caprınate; octanoıc/decanoıc acıd trıglycerıde; kaprilik trigliserit; kaprik trigliserit; kaprik trigliserit; kaprilik kaprik trigliserit; caprilik caprik trigliserit; caprylik caprik trigliserit; octanoic decanoic acid triglyceride; caprylic acid; Capric acid; Decanoic acid; kaprilik kaprik trigliserit; n-capric acid; Caprylic acid; kaprilik asit; acide caprylique; caprique
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
What is Caprylic capric triglyceride?
Caprylic capric triglyceride is an ingredient used in soaps and cosmetics. It’s usually made from combining coconut oil with glycerin. This ingredient is sometimes called Caprylic capric triglyceride. It’s also sometimes mistakenly called fractionated coconut oil.
Caprylic capric triglyceride has been widely used for more than 50 years. It helps smooth skin and works as an antioxidant. It also binds other ingredients together, and can work as a preservative of sorts to make the active ingredients in cosmetics last longer.
Caprylic capric triglyceride is valued as a more natural alternative to other synthetic chemicals found in topical skin products. Companies that claim that their products are “all natural” or “organic” often contain Caprylic capric triglyceride.
While it’s technically made of natural components, the Caprylic capric triglyceride used in products isn’t usually found in nature. A chemical process separates the oily liquid so that a “pure” version of it can be added to products.
Caprylic capric triglyceride benefits
Caprylic capric triglycerides are compounds made of naturally occurring fatty acids. They’re a clear liquid and slightly sweet to the taste. The high fat content in triglycerides, along with their texture and antioxidant qualities, make them of particular use for soap and skin care products.
Emollient
Emollients are ingredients that soften your skin. Emollients work by trapping moisture in your skin and forming a protective layer so the moisture can’t escape. Caprylic capric triglyceride is an effective skin-softening ingredient.
Dispersing agents are the parts of any chemical or organic compound that hold the ingredients together and stabilize them.
Mixing other active ingredients, pigments, or scents in a good dispersing agent keeps the ingredients from clumping together or sinking to the bottom of the mixture. The waxy and thick consistency of Caprylic capric triglycerides make them an excellent dispersing agent.
Solvent
Solvents are ingredients that can dissolve, or break apart, certain ingredients or compounds. Ingredients are solvents based on how their molecules are structured and shaped, and how they interact with other substances.
Caprylic capric triglyceride can dissolve compounds that are designed to clump together. While some solvents have toxic ingredients, Caprylic capric triglyceride doesn’t carry those risks.
Antioxidant
Antioxidants work to neutralize toxins you’re exposed to every day in your environment. Antioxidants stop the chain reaction called oxidation, which can age your skin and take a toll on your body.
Caprylic capric triglyceride is full of antioxidants that help preserve your skin and help you feel younger.
Caprylic capric triglyceride uses
Caprylic capric triglyceride can be found in topical skin care products that you use on and around your face. It’s used to:
boost the shelf life of these products
add a sheen to your skin that’s light and non-greasy
boost the antioxidants in the product
These products include:
moisturizing face creams; anti-aging serums; sunscreens; eye creams
Caprylic capric triglyceride in cosmetics
Caprylic capric triglyceride is a popular ingredient in makeup and other cosmetics. The ingredient keeps pigments evenly distributed in a cosmetic formula without causing a sticky feeling on your skin. You’ll often see this ingredient listed in these cosmetics:
lipstick; lip balm; lip liner; cream-based and liquid foundations; eye liner
Is caprylic capric triglyceride safe?
Caprylic capric triglyceride carries a very low, if any, toxicity for topical use. The FDA notes that it’s generally recognized as safe in low amounts as a food additive. That means it’s not toxic to consume the trace amounts that might be in your lipstick or lip balm.
Unless you have a severe allergy to coconut oil, you’re at very little risk for an allergic reaction triggered by using Caprylic capric triglyceride.
There’s some environmental concern for the use of Caprylic capric triglyceride. We don’t know enough about the way it’s broken down in nature and if it might eventually build up and pose a threat to wildlife. More research is needed to determine the safest ways to dispose of products that contain Caprylic capric triglyceride.
Takeaway
Current research states that Caprylic capric triglyceride is safe for most people to use. Consuming it in small amounts as a food additive, sweetener, or cosmetic product doesn’t pose a risk to your health.
Capric acid capric triglyceride is one of the cleanest ingredients that you can find as a natural alternative to chemical ingredients.
Everyone’s skin reacts differently to different chemicals. Always proceed carefully when you’re using a new cosmetic product or face cream.
Derived from coconut oil and glycerin. Caprylic capric triglyceride is a clear, non-viscous liquid. Caprylic capric triglyceride contains a mix of fatty acids that helps to replenish the skin and resist moisture loss. Caprylic capric triglyceride acts as an excellent emollient, dispersing agent and skin-replenishing ingredient. Caprylic capric triglyceride is especially suited to sensitive and oily skin. Caprylic capric triglyceride is used in all skin care creams and lotions, make up, shampoos and cleansers.
Derived from coconut oil and glycerin Caprylic capric triglyceride is considered an excellent emollient and skin-replenishing ingredient. Caprylic capric triglyceride’s included in cosmetics due to its mix of fatty acids that skin can use to replenish its surface and resist moisture loss. Caprylic capric triglyceride can also function as a thickener, but its chief job is to moisturize and replenish skin. This ingredient’s value for skin is made greater by the fact that it’s considered gentle.
What is Caprylic capric triglyceride?
Caprylic capric triglyceride is an oily liquid made from palm kernel or coconut oil. Caprylic capric triglyceride is a mixed ester composed of caprylic and capric fatty acids attached to a glycerin backbone. Caprylic/capric triglycerides are sometimes erroneously referred to as fractionated coconut oil, which is similar in composition but typically refers to coconut oil that has had its longer chain triglycerides removed. Chemically speaking, fats and oils are made up mostly of triglycerides whose fatty acids are chains ranging from 6–12 carbon atoms, in this case the ester is comprised of capric (10 carbon atoms) and caprylic (8 carbon atoms).
What does Caprylic capric triglyceride do?
Caprylic capric triglyceride creates a barrier on the skin's surface, which helps to reduce skin dryness by decreasing the loss of moisture. Its oily texture helps to thicken and provides a slipperiness, which helps make our lotions and natural strength deodorants easy to apply and leaves a non-greasy after-touch.
How is Caprylic capric triglyceride made?
Our Stewardship Model guides us to select ingredients which have been processed in a manner that supports our philosophy of human and environmental health.
Caprylic capric triglycerides are naturally occurring in coconut and palm kernel oils at lower levels but to make this pure ingredient, the oils are split and the specific fatty acid (capric acid and caprylic acid are isolated and recombined with the glycerin backbone to form the pure capric/caprylic triglyceride which is then further purified (bleached and deodorized) using clay, heat and steam. No other additives or processing aids are used.
What are the alternatives?
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) including caprylic triglyceride are naturally found in a variety of animal and vegetable fats. These sources typically contain low amounts, but palm kernel oil contains a significant amount, which is why we source caprylic triglyceride from this source.
Caprylic capric triglycerides (CCT) are mistakenly called Fractionated Coconut Oil. Caprylic capric triglycerides are a specialized esterification of Coconut Oil using just the Caprylic and Capric Fatty Acids, while Fractionated Coconut Oil is a, standard, distillation of Coconut Oil which results in a combination of all of the fatty acids, pulled through the distillation process. Fractionated Coconut Oil has the same feel, and performance, of traditional vegetable oils with a lighter feel and extended shelf life, than most common carrier oils. Caprylic capric triglycerides do not feel like a standard carrier oil, at all. Caprylic capric triglycerides are an ester and have a very light, silky oil, feel that is not at all greasy oily feeling on the skin. There are many suppliers that haven't recognized the difference between these two products, which is unfortunate for the discriminate formulator because the two are not interchangeable. Just because they both come from coconut oil doesn't make them the same thing. If that rationale were accurate then they would have to say that Neroli, Petitgrain, and Bitter Orange are all the same thing because they all come from the same tree, or that Emulsifying Wax and CocoBetaine are the same thing because they come from the same Coconut. The difference between Caprylic capric triglycerides and Fractionated Coconut Oil are obvious in the chemistry, and to the touch. If a comparison is done, by applying the two to the skin, it is very clear that the Caprylic capric triglycerides offers a silky feel, a testament to the specialized esters, while the Fractionated Coconut Oil has the feel of a common carrier oil. Caprylic capric triglycerides have a dry, silky oil, feel that is almost powdery because it is still present on the skin but not oily. These are just the esthetic properties. When it comes down to chemical performance the Caprylic capric triglycerides are a suitable oil replacement, when you need to use it with emulsifiers that are intolerant of carrier oils, where the Fractionated Coconut Oil is not. Ingredients To Die For offers Fractionated Coconut Oil as well, because it has value when you're looking for it's particular attributes as a vegetable oil, just not as a substitute for carrier oils, for oily skin, for sensitive skin, or oil free product claims and not as a substitute for Caprylic capric triglycerides.
Caprylic capric triglycerides are produced by the esterification of glycerol (plant sugars) with mixtures of caprylic (C:8) and capric (C:10) fatty acids from coconut or palm kernel oils. The special combination, and esterification, are responsible for the silky oil feel. This is a specialized process used to achieve the skin benefits of the specific fatty acid esters that also results in superior oxidative stability, low color, and odor, as it is then further refined to remove residual fatty acids resulting in a pure ester, with a silky oil feel, that is a great choice for sensitive skin and oil free applications. The unique metabolic, and functional properties, of Caprylic capric triglycerides, are a consequence of their chemical structure, and makes them a versatile ingredient in numerous Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic applications.
In skin care applications Caprylic capric triglycerides offer several key benefits: they offer a noticeable silkiness in products, they exhibit excellent anti-oxidant properties to extend the natural shelf life, they offer skin nurturing benefits due to the skin loving nature of the specific fatty acid esters, not seen with common Fractionated Coconut Oil, or other carrier oils, and they are especially suited to sensitive skin and oily skin.
Caprylic capric triglyceride were developed over fifty years ago as an energy source for patients with fat malabsorption syndrome and they still find use, today, in medical nutritional products, owing to the purity of this specialty ester and the unique attributes of Caprylic capric triglycerides.
Caprylic capric triglycerides offers low viscosity and excellent oxidative stability, and anti-oxidant protection, with an unlimited shelf life.
Caprylic capric triglyceride are efficient solvents and therefore, act as carriers for fat-soluble vitamins and actives. Their emollient properties enable Caprylic capric triglycerides to improve the esthetics of topical products while functioning as a component of the delivery system. Caprylic capric triglycerides may also be used to help solubilize actives that are not readily soluble in traditional carrier oils. Caprylic capric triglycerides is a perfect vehicle for using Alpha Lipoic Acid, to keep it in solution. To do this add 10% Alpha Lipoic Acid to 90% Caprylic capric triglycerides, mixing to combine and then add this solution to your product at cool down. Do not apply heat, once you've added the solution, which will cause the Alpha Lipoic Acid to fall out of solution.
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
What is it?
Caprylic capric triglyceride is an oily liquid made from palm kernel or coconut oil. It is a mixed ester composed of caprylic and capric fatty acids attached to a glycerin backbone. Caprylic capric triglycerides are sometimes erroneously referred to as fractionated coconut oil, which is similar in composition but typically refers to coconut oil that has had its longer chain triglycerides removed. Chemically speaking, fats and oils are made up mostly of triglycerides whose fatty acids are chains ranging from 6-12 carbon atoms, in this case the ester is comprised of capric (10 carbon atoms) and caprylic (8 carbon atoms).
What does it do?
Caprylic capric triglyceride creates a barrier on the skin's surface, which helps to reduce skin dryness by decreasing the loss of moisture. Its oily texture helps to thicken and provides a slipperiness, which helps make our lotions and natural strength deodorants easy to apply and leaves a non-greasy after-touch.
How is it made?
Our Stewardship Model guides us to select ingredients which have been processed in a manner that supports our philosophy of human and environmental health.
Caprylic capric triglycerides are naturally occurring in coconut and palm kernel oils at lower levels but to make this pure ingredient, the oils are split and the specific fatty acid (capric acid and caprylic acid are isolated and recombined with the glycerin backbone to form the pure capric Caprylic capric triglyceride which is then further purified (bleached and deodorized) using clay, heat and steam. No other additives or processing aids are used.
What are the alternatives?
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) including Caprylic capric triglyceride are naturally found in a variety of animal and vegetable fats. These sources typically contain low amounts, but palm kernel oil contains a significant amount, which is why we source Caprylic capric triglyceride from this source.
Is this the right option for me?
The FDA deems caprylic acid (this ingredient's main component) as a Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) substance to be used as a food additive.1
Caprylic acid, also known under the systematic name octanoic acid is a carboxylic acid with the structural formula CH₃(CH₂)₆CO₂H. Classified as a carboxylic acid, it is a colorless oily liquid that is minimally soluble in water with a slightly unpleasant rancid-like smell and taste
Caprylic capric triglycerides are produced by the esterification of glycerol (plant sugars) with mixtures of caprylic (C:8) and capric (C:10) fatty acids from coconut or palm kernel oils. The special combination, and esterification, are responsible for the silky oil feel. This is a specialized process used to achieve the skin benefits of the specific fatty acid esters that also results in superior oxidative stability, low color, and odor, as it is then further refined to remove residual fatty acids resulting in a pure ester, with a silky oil feel, that is a great choice for sensitive skin and oil free applications. The unique metabolic, and functional properties, of Caprylic capric triglycerides, are a consequence of their chemical structure, and makes them a versatile ingredient in numerous Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic applications.
In skin care applications Caprylic capric triglycerides offer several key benefits: they offer a noticeable silkiness in products, they exhibit excellent anti-oxidant properties to extend the natural shelf life, they offer skin nurturing benefits due to the skin loving nature of the specific fatty acid esters, not seen with common Fractionated Coconut Oil, or other carrier oils, and they are especially suited to sensitive skin and oily skin.
Caprylic capric triglyceride were developed over fifty years ago as an energy source for patients with fat malabsorption syndrome and they still find use, today, in medical nutritional products, owing to the purity of this specialty ester and the unique attributes of Caprylic capric triglycerides.
Caprylic capric triglycerides offers low viscosity and excellent oxidative stability, and anti-oxidant protection, with an unlimited shelf life.
Caprylic capric triglyceride are efficient solvents and therefore, act as carriers for fat-soluble vitamins and actives. Their emollient properties enable Caprylic capric triglycerides to improve the esthetics of topical products while functioning as a component of the delivery system. Caprylic capric triglycerides may also be used to help solubilize actives that are not readily soluble in traditional carrier oils. Caprylic capric triglycerides is a perfect vehicle for using Alpha Lipoic Acid, to keep it in solution. To do this add 10% Alpha Lipoic Acid to 90% Caprylic capric triglycerides, mixing to combine and then add this solution to your product at cool down. Do not apply heat, once you`ve added the solution, which will cause the Alpha Lipoic Acid to fall out of solution.
Caprylic capric triglyceride (from the Latin word capra, meaning "goat"), also known under the systematic name octanoic acid is a carboxylic acid with the structural formula CH3(CH2)6CO2H. Classified as a carboxylic acid, it is a colorless oily liquid that is minimally soluble in water with a slightly unpleasant rancid-like smell and taste.[1] Salts and esters of oacid are known as octanoates or caprylates. It is a common industrial chemical, which is produced by oxidation of the C8 aldehyde.[4] Its compounds are found naturally in the milk of various mammals, and as a minor constituent of coconut oil and palm kernel oil.
Two other acids are named after goats via the Latin word capra: caproic acid (C6) and capric acid (C10). Along with caprylic acid (C8) these total 15% in goat milk fat.
Uses
Caprylic capric triglyceride is used commercially in the production of esters used in perfumery and also in the manufacture of dyes.
Caprylic capric triglyceride is an antimicrobial pesticide used as a food contact surface sanitizer in commercial food handling establishments on dairy equipment, food processing equipment, breweries, wineries, and beverage processing plants. Caprylic capric triglyceride is also used as disinfectant in health care facilities, schools colleges, animal care veterinary facilities, industrial facilities, office buildings, recreational facilities, retail and wholesale establishments, livestock premises, restaurants, and hotels motels. In addition, caprylic acid is used as an algaecide, bactericide, fungicide, and herbicide in nurseries, greenhouses, garden centers, and interiorscapes on ornamentals. Products containing Caprylic capric triglyceride are formulated as soluble concentrate liquids and ready-to-use liquids.
Caprylic capric triglyceride plays an important role in the body`s regulation of energy input and output, a function which is performed by the hormone ghrelin. The sensation of hunger is a signal that the body requires an input of energy in the form of food consumption. Ghrelin stimulates hunger by triggering receptors in the hypothalamus. In order to activate these receptors, ghrelin must undergo a process called acylation in which it acquires an -OH group, and caprylic acid provides this by linking at a specific site on ghrelin molecules. Other fatty acids in the same position have similar effects on hunger.
Caprylic capric triglyceride is currently being researched as a treatment for essential tremor.
The acid chloride of caprylic acid is used in the synthesis of perfluorooctanoic acid.
Caprylic capric triglyceride is a triglyceride obtained by acylation of the three hydroxy groups of glycerol by octanoic acid. Used as an alternative energy source to glucose for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. It has a role as an anticonvulsant and a plant metabolite. It is a triglyceride and an octanoate ester.
What Is Caprylic capric triglyceride?
Caprylic capric triglyceride is a clear liquid derived from coconut oil, which is an edible substance that comes from the coconut nut of the coconut palm tree. Coconut palms, cocos nucifera, grow around the world in lowland tropical and subtropical areas where annual precipitation is low.[1] Healthy coconut palms produce 50 nuts per year, and the tree can be used to produce everything from food and drink to fibers, building materials, and natural ingredients.[2] Caprylic capric triglyceride is a digestible ingredient used in hundreds of personal care and household products, such as baby wipes, lotion, makeup, deodorant, sunscreen, and hair-care items.
What Does Caprylic capric triglyceride Do in Our products?
Sometimes known as fractionated coconut oil, Caprylic capric triglyceride is widely used in skin products due to its rapid penetration ability.[6] It helps bind moisture to the skin and has a neutral color and odor.[7]
Why Puracy Uses Caprylic capric triglyceride
We use Caprylic capric triglyceride in our products as a moisturizer. Palm oil is a common alternative, but it is an endangered resource. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has deemed Caprylic capric triglyceride safe in cosmetic formulations, and the Food and Drug Administration has deemed Caprylic capric triglyceride as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in food.[10] Whole Foods has deemed the ingredient acceptable in its body care quality standards.[11] Studies show that Caprylic capric triglyceride have very low toxicity to people and animals when eaten, injected, or put on the skin or eyes.[12] Studies also show Caprylic capric triglyceride is not a skin irritant.[13]
How Caprylic capric triglyceride Is Made
Caprylic capric triglyceride is the mixed triester of glycerin and caprylic and capric acids. Caprylic capric triglyceride is made by first separating the fatty acids and the glycerol in coconut oil. This is done by hydrolyzing the coconut oil, which involves applying heat and pressure to the oil to split it apart. The acids then go through esterification to add back the glycerol. The resulting oil is called Caprylic capric triglyceride. It has different properties from raw coconut oil.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder of motor neurons causing progressive muscle weakness, paralysis, and finally death. ALS patients suffer from asthenia and their progressive weakness negatively impacts quality of life, limiting their daily activities. They have impaired energy balance linked to lower activity of mitochondrial electron transport chain enzymes in ALS spinal cord, suggesting that improving mitochondrial function may present a therapeutic approach for ALS. When fed a ketogenic diet, the G93A ALS mouse shows a significant increase in serum ketones as well as a significantly slower progression of weakness and lower mortality rate. In this study, we treated SOD1-G93A mice with Caprylic capric triglyceride, a medium chain triglyceride that is metabolized into ketone bodies and can serve as an alternate energy substrate for neuronal metabolism. Treatment with Caprylic capric triglyceride attenuated progression of weakness and protected spinal cord motor neuron loss in SOD1-G93A transgenic animals, significantly improving their performance even though there was no significant benefit regarding the survival of the ALS transgenic animals. We found that Caprylic capric triglyceride significantly promoted the mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate in vivo. Our results demonstrated that Caprylic capric triglyceride alleviates ALS-type motor impairment through restoration of energy metabolism in SOD1-G93A ALS mice, especially during the overt stage of the disease. These data indicate the feasibility of using caprylic acid as an easily administered treatment with a high impact on the quality of life of ALS patients.
Medium chain triglyceride diets were developed as a more palatable modification of the ketogenic diet [39]. Medium chain triglycerides are six to twelve carbon fatty acid esters of glycerol. They are highly ketogenic and due to their small size, they are hydrolyzed into free fatty acids in the intestine and rapidly absorbed (reviewed in [40]). Caprylic capric triglyceride is an eight carbon medium chain triglyceride, which is metabolized into ketone bodies that can serve as an alternate energy substrate for neuronal metabolism. Caprylic acid is the main constituent of the medium-chain triglyceride diet advocated for seizure therapy [41] and it has been demonstrated to cross the blood-brain barrier [42], to exert antiepileptic effects [43] and to increase the effectiveness of the anticonvulsant drug, valproic acid [44], in mouse models of seizure. Also known as fractionated coconut oil, Caprylic capric triglyceride is widely used in many skin products due to its rapid penetration ability. It has been previously developed as a medical food to promote mitochondrial metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease [45].
Male SOD1-G93A mutant transgenic mice (stock #002297) were obtained from the Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME). Only males were used because of the background and gender effects on survival in this mouse model of ALS [21]. Caprylic capric triglyceride in its liquid form was purchased from Sigma Aldrich (St. Louis, MO) and used for both in vitro and in vivo studies. At 50 days of age, SOD1-G93A animals or their wild type littermates were placed on solid diets containing 10% (w/w) Caprylic capric triglyceride (caloric composition: fat 34%, carbohydrate 46%, protein 20%) or a control isocaloric diet (Research Diets, New Brunswick, NJ). Mice had access to food and water ad libitum. Body weight, food intake and motor function assessment were monitored weekly. The survival study endpoint was defined as meeting any one of the following conditions: no spontaneous breathing or movement for 60 seconds with no response to pain; the animal was unable to roll over to the normal position within 10 s following a push over; or complete hind limb paralysis.
Caprylic capric triglyceride did not result in any change in body weight (Fig. 1A) or motor performance (Fig. 1B) in wild type animals as compared to control group, suggesting that Caprylic capric triglyceride is very well tolerated.
Effect of Caprylic capric triglyceride on Glucose Tolerance
Impaired glucose tolerance has been reported in ALS patients [49]. To test whether Caprylic capric triglyceride could beneficially affect the regulation of blood glucose levels, we performed a glucose tolerance test in the experimental animals. We first compared the fasting blood glucose levels between the two groups (Fig. 3A) and found that Caprylic capric triglyceride treatment did not change the fasting glucose level in SOD1-G93A animals. We also recorded their glucose levels at 15, 30, 60, and 120 min after glucose injection (2 mg/g body weight). Although two way ANOVA analysis did not reveal any major difference between the Caprylic capric triglyceride treatment group and control group (Fig. 3B), a significantly lower glucose level at 60 min post-injection was observed in the animals fed with Caprylic capric triglyceride (Bonferroni post-test, *p<0.05).
Caprylic capric triglyceride Safely Increased Blood Ketone Level
Caprylic capric triglyceride is metabolized into ketone bodies in the liver. To determine whether Caprylic capric triglyceride treatment could result in increased concentrations of ketone in the SOD1-G93A animals, we measured the blood ketone level in mice fed Caprylic capric triglyceride or control isocaloric diet. The Caprylic capric triglyceride fed mice showed about a 2.5 fold increase in the blood concentration of circulating ketones compared to animals on control diet (0.54±0.10 vs 0.22±0.06 mmol/L, p = 0.027 by two-tailed t-test) at post-symptomatic stage (Figure 3C). We also measured the lipid profile (Figure 3D) in the plasma and no difference was detected. Higher corticosterone levels have been demonstrated to significantly correlate with an earlier onset of paralysis in ALS patients [50]. We measured cortisosterone levels in the plasma (Figure 3E) and no difference was found following Caprylic capric triglyceride administration.
Caprylic capric triglyceride Protected Against Motor Neuron Loss
To determine whether Caprylic capric triglyceride can protect against the motor neuron loss that accompanies the clinical symptoms of ALS, we counted the number of motor neurons in the lumbar spinal cord in mice on the Caprylic capric triglyceride diet compared to those on control isocaloric diet at the post-symptomatic stage (day 110) (Figure 4A). There were significantly higher numbers of motor neurons in the lumbar spinal cord of mice on a Caprylic capric triglyceride diet than those on control diet (23.96±4.38 vs. 14.61±2.31, p = 0.02 by two-tailed t-test) (Figure 4B) and the treatment returned the motor neuron count to that found in WT mice of the same age (20.4±0.5; from our previously published data [51]).
Caprylic capric triglyceride Promoted Oxygen Consumption in Spinal Cord Mitochondria of SOD1-G93A Mice
To evaluate the effect of Caprylic capric triglyceride in the mitochondrial bioenergetic profile, we isolated the spinal cord mitochondria of WT and SOD1-G93A animals fed 10% Caprylic capric triglyceride or control isocaloric diet at post-symptomatic stage (day 110) and measured oxygen consumption rate using the Seahorse XF24 extracellular flux analyzer. WT mice on control and Caprylic capric triglyceride diets had comparable OCRs (Fig. 5D). We found that basal and FCCP-induced maximal mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates in the presence of the complex I substrates pyruvate and malate were increased in the spinal cord of Caprylic capric triglyceride treated SOD1-G93A mice relative to mice fed control isocaloric diet (Fig. 5A and 5B; p<0.05 by two-tailed t test). Following Caprylic capric triglyceride treatment, spare respiratory capacity remained unchanged in WT mice and showed a trend for increase in SOD1-G93A mice which did not reach statistical significance (Fig. 5C). ADP-stimulated state 3 respiration and OCR with complex IV electron donors showed a trend for increase, which did not reach statistical significance (Fig. 5B). Oligomycin inhibited state 4o OCR remained unchanged (data not shown). There was no significant difference in OCR with the complex II substrate succinate in spinal cord mitochondria of WT as compared to SOD1 G93A mice or of the control and Caprylic capric triglyceride SOD1 G93A mice (data not shown). This evidence suggested that long term treatment of Caprylic capric triglyceride changed the metabolic response, possibly through alterations of the checkpoints for control of mitochondrial respiration.
Our study demonstrated that SOD1-G93A transgenic animals fed Caprylic capric triglyceride showed significant improvement in the clinical signs of ALS and in motor neuron survival in the spinal cord. The improvement of motor performance in Caprylic capric triglyceride-treated animals (Fig. 1D) was accompanied by significantly more motor neurons preserved in the spinal cord at the end stage of disease (Fig. 4). These findings are similar to our previously reported findings in G93A transgenic mice fed a ketogenic diet [38] as well as the R6/2 1J Huntington’s disease model [52].
It has been reported that ALS patients with elevated triglyceride and cholesterol serum levels have a prolonged survival [53]. Our data showed that animals treated with Caprylic capric triglyceride did not have a prolonged life span as compared to the control group, possibly due to the fact that the treatment did not result in increased serum triglyceride/cholesterol level (Fig. 3D). Future studies will address the effect, if any, of Caprylic capric triglyceride on denervation in the neuromuscular junction, which may be a contributory factor to the lack of effect on survival following treatment. It should be noted that the transgenic mouse and the treatment used in this study were quite stringent–a severe genetic model and a highly restrictive diet formulation. It will also be necessary to assess the efficacy of Caprylic capric triglyceride diet in other models of ALS such as the TDP-43 or FUS/TLS mice to determine whether the benefits we have observed are due to specific to the SOD1 mutant.
Caprylic capric triglyceride can be metabolized into ketone bodies, and serve as an alternate energy substrate for neuronal metabolism. Our results showed increased basal and maximal mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates in the spinal cord together with elevated ketone levels in the blood of Caprylic capric triglyceride-treated ALS transgenic animals, suggesting that the additional ketones provided by Caprylic capric triglyceride might be used as an alternate substrate for energy metabolism in ALS animals. The increased maximal respiration (Fig. 5C) may represent improved mitochondrial respiratory capacity in the disease model. Further studies are required to determine whether the trend for increase in mitochondrial respiratory capacity is due to changes in the neuronal or glial mitochondrial content and/or regulation of metabolic activities. It is noteworthy that the decrease in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation activity observed by histochemical methods in the spinal cord of SOD1-G93A mice as compared to WT [51] is not detectable by the assay used in this study (Fig. 5B and 5D). This could be due to the fact that the current assay using mitochondrial preparations from the whole spinal cord cannot detect the area-specific decrease in mitochondrial activity in the ventral horn of the lumbar spinal cord. Another drawback of our study is that the mice were sacrificed by carbon dioxide inhalation and exposure to hypercapnic/hypoxic conditions are known to alter mitochondrial function [54]. We have taken maximum care to ensure that the different groups of mice were treated identically during euthanasia but the effects of hypoxia cannot be completely discounted.
It has been reported that Caprylic capric triglyceride, when used as a medical food, attenuates cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease [55]. Although further research is needed to better understand the mechanism and magnitude of the clinical impact that caprylic acid has on transgenic mouse models, there is now a basis to move this treatment into human studies. The ability to objectively measure pharmacologic effects (ketone bodies and lipids, Fig. 3C and 3D) will easily translate into phase I safety and tolerability, accelerating the decision whether or not to proceed with efficacy studies.
