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MCT oil to support cognition

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The disease process in cognitive impairment is characterized by poor glucose metabolism in the brain. MCT oil, which gets converted into ketones, has been studied as a supplement to give the brain another source of energy to work with. Here is one study in which 80% of the subjects remained stable or improved during the 6 month long study.

Those older than age 73, and that continued the study longer, had more improvements than the rest of the group.  For some, there can be a bit of digestive adjustment to supplementation. Since the average consumption is disclosed as 1.8 T, only some were able to take the therapeutic dose, which suggests the results might have been better if all subjects could have participated fully.

Another question is if a longer study was conducted, whether there would be an acceleration in progress made.

As for the potential negative effects of taking MCT oil - though it may take an adjustment period to comfortably digest MCT oil, it will also have a maximum dose that is tolerable for the same reason. For instance, trying a tiny amount and gradually increasing it to avoid this symptom is a smart route. There also might be a concern for the rise in cholesterol levels, if that is a pre-existing issue. The increase in calories might need to considered as well, if weight is a concern. There also seems to be the chance of some nutrients not being absorbed as well if the supplementation is excessive. These are all things that should be followed by regular check-ups with a primary care physician.



 
 
 

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