This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine whether Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) are better than Long Chain Triglycerides (LCT) in measuring fatty acid oxidation. Fatty acids are a source of energy and generally these fats are converted to acetyl coenzyme A in the mitochondria in the process of beta-oxidation. This assessment was done by other investigators using a fat tolerance test carried out over a 10 to 12 hour interval. Levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) were measured and the area under the curve was calculated. The method was useful in detecting significant differences of about 15 to 20% between healthy subjects and those with familial combined hyperlipidemia. Also, somewhat greater differences were found between women and men. The study objective is to compare BHB curves during intake of two oral fat loads that consist of either long-chain triglycerides (LCT) or medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). LCT consists of fatty acids that have 12 to 20 carbon atoms; MCT contain fatty acids that are 8 to 12 carbon atoms in length. The difference in chain length and other properties of MCT, as detailed below, will allow MCT to undergo beta-oxidation to a greater extent than LCT. The net effect should be that plasma levels of BHB will be higher during the ingestion of MCT than LCT.
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