Lauric Acid: Friend Or Foe On Keto?

The ketogenic, or keto, diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet. Coconut oil is often used in keto diets, and it contains a high proportion of lauric acid, a type of saturated fat. Lauric acid is a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) with 12 carbon atoms. While lauric acid has many health benefits, it is not the most effective MCT for ketone production and weight loss. This is because it behaves like a long-chain triglyceride (LCT) in terms of its slow digestion and absorption. Other MCTs, such as caprylic acid and capric acid, are more ketogenic and can help boost energy and aid weight loss. Therefore, while lauric acid is not necessarily bad for keto, other MCTs may be more beneficial for achieving ketosis and weight loss goals.

Lauric acid is not the same as monolaurin

Coconut oil is a staple for many on the keto diet, as it helps with satiety and energy. Coconut oil is made up of different types of fatty acids, including lauric acid and monolaurin.

Lauric acid is a 12-carbon chain fatty acid that can be found in coconut oil, accounting for nearly half of its medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) content. It is known for its antimicrobial properties, which have been shown to be effective in treating acne and psoriasis.

Monolaurin, on the other hand, is a chemical derived from lauric acid and glycerin. It is a byproduct of coconut fat and is also found in breast milk. Monolaurin has been shown to have more potent antibacterial and antiviral effects than lauric acid. While lauric acid is often removed from coconut oil due to its high value in industrial and medical applications, monolaurin is currently being studied for its potential use in medicine, sanitation, and food preservation.

Although lauric acid can be converted into monolaurin in the body, the process is not yet fully understood. The body's ability to make this conversion also affects how much monolaurin is derived from consuming coconut oil.

In summary, lauric acid and monolaurin are distinct compounds with different chemical structures and properties. While lauric acid is a type of fatty acid, monolaurin is a chemical derived from lauric acid and has more potent antimicrobial effects. More research is needed to fully understand the conversion process and the potential benefits of consuming lauric acid and monolaurin.

Lauric acid is antimicrobial

Lauric acid is a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) with antimicrobial properties. It is a 12-carbon chain fatty acid and can make up nearly half of the MCT content in coconut oil.

Lauric acid is converted by the body into monolaurin, a compound that kills pathogens such as measles, herpes simplex, staph, and E. coli. It has been found to be an effective acne treatment, outperforming benzoyl peroxide in a study. It also has topical benefits, increasing hydration and skin elasticity.

Lauric acid has been found to have anti-microbial properties in the small intestine, suggesting it can help the gut block unhealthy toxins and bacteria from entering the bloodstream.

Lauric acid is slow to digest

Lauric acid is a medium-chain saturated fatty acid, also known as a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT). Triglycerides are three fatty acid groups bound to a glycerol backbone; they are the main constituents of body fat in humans and animals and are natural fats found in food. Medium-chain fatty acids (or triglycerides) are composed of 6-12 carbon atoms.

MCTs are rapidly digested and absorbed—most fats travel slowly from the gut into the bloodstream, whereas MCTs are directly shuttled to the liver, where they can be used for energy for the body or converted into ketones.

Lauric acid is the most predominant saturated fat in coconuts and is found in many fruits and seeds. It is also found in coconut oil, palm oil, and other vegetable fats. It is also present in many different milk products.

Lauric acid has various health benefits. It has been shown to have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anticancer properties. It can help promote ketosis, which is helpful for people on low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets. It can also help reduce blood pressure and heart rate and reduce oxidative stress in the heart and kidneys.

Lauric acid is also metabolized by the liver. Unlike longer-chain saturated fats, its consumption does not negatively affect organs such as the pancreas, liver, and gastrointestinal system.

Lauric acid behaves like an LCT

Lauric acid, a 12-carbon chain fatty acid, is often removed from coconut oil because of its high value for industrial and medical purposes. It is also more accurately described as a long-chain triglyceride (LCT) because it behaves like one in terms of its slow digestion and absorption.

Lauric acid requires processing in the liver and takes longer to metabolise. It is not immediately converted into energy like other medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). Instead, it is digested and absorbed much slower than other MCTs, and the body treats it like an LCT.

Lauric acid is not the same as monolaurin, an extremely potent antimicrobial that is derived from lauric acid. While lauric acid has some antimicrobial benefits, it is not as efficient as other MCTs in fuelling the brain and body.

Lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid in coconut oil, making up around 49% of its content. Coconut oil is the richest natural source of MCTs, which comprise about 54% of the fat in copra (the dried kernel or meat of coconuts).

Lauric acid has strong antibacterial properties and has been shown to help treat acne in human cells. It also has potential anti-inflammatory properties when applied to the skin.

Lauric acid is the most abundant MCT

Lauric acid is a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) that can be found in coconut oil, palm oil, and some forms of animal milk. It is the most abundant MCT, making up around 49% of coconut oil's MCT content.

Lauric acid is known for its antimicrobial properties, helping the body to develop monolaurin, a compound that kills pathogens such as measles, herpes simplex, staph, and E. coli. It also has anti-acne properties and has been found to increase hydration and skin elasticity.

In terms of digestion, lauric acid behaves like a long-chain triglyceride (LCT). This means that, unlike other MCTs, it is not rapidly digested and transported to the liver for energy use. Instead, it is processed in the liver and takes longer to metabolise. For this reason, it is often not considered a true MCT and is sometimes removed from MCT oil.

Despite this, lauric acid has been characterised as having "a more favourable effect on total HDL cholesterol than any other fatty acid". It is also thought to be responsible for the low cardiovascular disease rates among Pacific Island populations, who get 30-60% of their total caloric intake from coconut oil.

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