It is well established that the consumption of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) can increase satiety and reduce food intake. Many media articles promote the use of coconut oil for weight loss advocating similar health benefits to that of MCT. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of MCT oil compared to coconut oil and control oil on food intake and satiety. Following an overnight fast, participants consumed a test breakfast smoothie containing 205kcal of either (i) MCT oil (ii) coconut oil or (iii) vegetable oil (control) on three separate test days. Participants recorded appetite ratings on visual analogue scales and were presented with an ad libitum lunch meal of preselected sandwiches 180min after consumption of the breakfast. The results showed a significant difference in energy and macronutrient intakes at the ad libitum meal between the three oils with the MCT oil reducing food intake compared to the coconut and control oil. Differences in food intake throughout the day were found for energy and fat, with the control having increased food intake compared to the MCT and coconut. The MCT also increased fullness over the three hours after breakfast compared to the control and coconut oils. The coconut oil was also reported as being less palatable than the MCT oil. The results of this study confirm the differences that exist between MCT and coconut oil such that coconut oil cannot be promoted as having similar effects to MCT oil on food intake and satiety.

It is well established that the consumption of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) can increase satiety and reduce food intake (1) . Coconut oil contains a high concentration of MCT and because of this many media articles encourage the use of coconut oil for weight loss advocating similar health benefits to that of MCT (2) . Two studies examining the effects of coconut oil compared to long chain fatty acids reported no increase in satiety and no effect on food intake (3,4) . To the best of the author's knowledge there is a lack of data comparing the effect of coconut oil to MCTs on food intake and satiety. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of MCT oil compared to coconut oil and a control on food intake and satiety.Following an overnight fast, fifteen healthy participants (33 ± 12 years; BMI 23·85 ± 2·85 kg/m 2 ) consumed a test breakfast smoothie containing 205 kcal of either MCT oil, coconut oil or vegetable oil (control) on three separate test days. Participants recorded appetite ratings on visual analogue scales and were presented with an ad libitum lunch meal of preselected sandwiches 180 minutes after consumption of the breakfast.The results showed a significant difference in energy intake at the ad libitum meal between the three oils (Control 1797·7 ± 415·7 kcal; MCT 1474·2 ± 536·5 kcal; Coconut oil 1710·8 ± 430·6 kcal; P = 0·018) with the difference lying between the control and the MCT oils (p = 0·048). There were also differences in the visual analogue scales for all four parameters, hunger, fullness, desire to eat and prospective consumption (P < 0·001). The differences here were between the MCT and the coconut oil for all VAS parameters (P < 0·01) and between control and MCT for hunger and fullness (P < 0·05). There were no differences between the control and the coconut oil. The MCT increased satiety more than the coconut oil and more than the control.The results of this study confirm that MCT reduces food intake at an ad libitum meal where coconut oil does not. It also demonstrated differences in perceived satiety between MCT and coconut oil. This study demonstrates that coconut oil cannot be advertised as having similar effects to MCT oil on food intake and satiety.