Affiliations 

  • 1 School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 2 International Joint Laboratory on Plant Oils Processing and Safety, Jinan University- Universiti Putra Malaysia.Institute of Bioscience, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 3 Monash Industry Palm Oil Research and Education Platform, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Agricultural and Food Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar, Perak, Malaysia
  • 5 International Joint Laboratory on Plant Oils Processing and Safety, Jinan University- Universiti Putra Malaysia. Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 6 International Joint Laboratory on Plant Oils Processing and Safety, Jinan University- Universiti Putra Malaysia. Department of Food Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
  • 7 Sime Darby Research Sdn Bhd, R&D Carey Island-Upstream, Carey Island, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 8 Malaysia Palm Oil Board, 6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 9 Bioprocess Technology, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
PMID: 33480262 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.1873729

Abstract

Structured lipid is a type of modified form of lipid that is "fabricated" with the purpose to improve the nutritional and functional properties of conventional fats and oils derived from animal and plant sources. Such healthier choice of lipid received escalating attention from the public for its capability to manage the rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Of which, medium-chain triacylglycerol (MCT) and medium-and long-chain triacylglycerol (MLCT) are the few examples of the "new generation" custom-made healthful lipids which are mainly composed of medium chain fatty acid (MCFA). MCT is made up exclusively of MCFA whereas MLCT contains a mixture of MCFA and long chain fatty acid (LCFA), respectively. Attributed by the unique metabolism of MCFA which is rapidly metabolized by the body, MCFA and MCT showed to acquire multiple physiological and functional properties in managing and reversing certain health disorders. Several chemically or enzymatically oils and fats modification processes catalyzed by a biological or chemical catalyst such as acidolysis, interesterification and esterification are adopted to synthesis MCT and MLCT. With their purported health benefits, MCT and MLCT are widely being used as nutraceutical in food and pharmaceutical sectors. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review on MCT and MLCT, with an emphasis on the basic understanding of its structures, properties, unique metabolism; the current status of the touted health benefits; latest routes of production; its up-to-date applications in the different food systems; relevant patents filed and its drawbacks.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.