What is "medium-chain triglyceride"

alt. (context chemistry English) Any ester of glycerol with fatty acids containing six to twelve carbons; posited to have certain beneficial health effects. n. (context chemistry English) Any ester of glycerol with fatty acids containing six to twelve carbons; posited to have certain beneficial health effects.

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are triglycerides whose fatty acids have an aliphatic tail of 6–12 carbon atoms.

The fatty acids found in MCTs are called medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). Like all triglycerides, MCTs are composed of a glycerol backbone and three fatty acids. In the case of MCTs, 2 or 3 of the fatty acid chains attached to glycerol are of medium length.

Rich sources for commercial extraction of beneficial MCTs include palm kernel oil and coconut oil.