How Do MCT Oil And Zinc Promote Our Body Energy?

How Do MCT Oil And Zinc Promote Our Body Energy?

What is MCT oil?

MCT means medium-chain triglycerides. Triglycerides are the most popular type of fat in our body which can be obtained externally from the foods we eat like butter, oils, and other fats, or from the excess calories we consume. Our bodies always convert excess calories that are not used right away after we eat to triglycerides that are stored in the adipose tissues[1].

MCT oil is a food supplement made up of high concentrations of medium-chain triglycerides. It is typically produced by extracting and isolating MCTs from coconut oil or palm kernel oil in a process called fractionation. Foods rich in MCTs are coconut oil, palm kernel oil, cow’s milk, and goat’s milk. MCT oil is popularly made from coconut oils and plan kernel oils because they contain the highest levels of MCTs. MCT oil can be consumed by adding directly to coffee, smoothies, juices, nut butter, salad dressing or protein shakes. MCT oil powder is usually preferred by some for use in drinks because it is more soluble, thus dissolves better[1, 2].

What is zinc?

Zinc is an indispensable trace mineral, naturally present in some foods. Though it is only needed in very small amounts, it is necessary for most enzymatic chemical reactions to occur. Zinc is a key player in DNA creation, cell growth, protein building and the repair of damaged tissues amongst others [3].

Oysters contain the highest amount of zinc, followed by red meat and poultry. Other dietary sources of zinc include beans, nuts, crabs, lobsters, whole grains, and dairy products. Zinc can also be gotten from zinc fortified foods like fortified breakfast cereals, dietary supplements like zinc sulphate or zinc energy drinks[4].

How do MCT oil and Zinc boost energy?

1 . Exercise

MCTs contain between 6-12 carbon atoms, unlike long-chain triglycerides that contain between 13-21 carbon atoms. Their shorter carbon chain thus makes them easier to be broken down and absorbed in the body. When consumed, MCTs go straightway to the liver where they are either used as an instant source of energy or converted to ketones via a process called ketogenesis. Most tissues oxidize ketones including skeletal muscles thus ketones can be used to fuel muscles during exercise. Ketone oxidation has been reported to be more energetically advantageous than carbohydrates and fats [5]. Exogenous ketones reduce the reliance of skeletal muscles on intramuscular triglycerides inhibiting glycolysis. Some research studies have reported the increase in performance of athletes upon ketone supplementation before exercise[6].

Zinc is a potent antioxidant that sequesters free radicals that cause oxidative stress and subsequent cell damage weakening the immune system[7]. Zinc prevents the early onset of fatigue during exercise. This is because zinc inhibits the production of free radicals, which increases antioxidant activity and prevents muscle exhaustion. Zinc administration increases antioxidant capacity by increasing the levels of glutathione in different tissues[8]. Zinc deficiency in sports performance has been linked with reduced peak oxygen uptake, reduced carbon dioxide output and an overall work capability of skeletal muscles. A decrease in plasma zinc has been associated with a consequent decrease in the overall work capability of the extensors and flexors for the knees and shoulders[9, 10].

2. Appetite

MCT oil increases satiety, lowers appetite, and increases the burning of fat in the body. MCT stimulates the expression of satiety hormones like gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) and cholecystokinin (CCK), which send signals to the brain to stop eating, thus reducing appetite. Reducing appetite reduces food intake and consequently reduces weight gain from excess consumption of calories. MCT oil also increases energy expenditure and has been reported to have a thermogenic effect, which results in decreased adiposity and more fat being burnt[11].

Zinc is vital for gastric acid secretion in the gastrointestinal tract. Gastric acid lowers pH, thereby killing any microorganism that may have been consumed alongside food. A low pH also hinders bacteria growth and prevents pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridioides difficile, from infecting the intestines[12]. Zinc is also crucial to produce enzymes that participate in the digestion of food. Moreover, zinc is important for maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal mucosa. A compromised, porous inflamed gastric mucosa, affects food digestion and absorption and can lead to several health conditions like gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome and gastro-oesophagal reflux disease. Zinc deficiency has been linked to the malabsorption of nutrients, leading to growth retardation, hair loss, diarrhoea, and skin lesions amongst others[13,14].

3. Brain energy

MCTs act more like glucose than fats. They can be broken down to ketones which can pass through the blood-brain barrier and be transported to the brain where they serve as an alternative fuel source for the brain[15].

Zinc is essential for the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and proteins during the development of the brain. It helps in the creation of new neurons in the hippocampus of the brain, which plays a major role in learning and memory. Insufficient zinc levels have been reported to lower learning capability and increase mental retardation in children. Zinc, therefore, is crucial for improving cognitive capabilities[16,17].

MCT oil and zinc are thus very vital for our health. They both enhance our body’s energy levels, our digestion and our brain’s functional capacity. There is no better place to find all the benefits of MCT oil and zinc than in a multiple nutritionally dense product like Zenkgo.

REFERENCE

  1. Volpe, S. L. (2020). Medium-chain triglycerides and health. ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, 24(1), 35–36. doi:10.1249/fit.0000000000000537
  2. Papich, M. G. (2016). MCT Oil. In Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (p. 477). Elsevier.
  3. (2019, November 1). Retrieved April 11, 2022, from The Nutrition Source website: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/zinc/
  4. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2022, from Nih.gov website: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/
  5. Cox, P. J., & Clarke, K. (2014). Acute nutritional ketosis: implications for exercise performance and metabolism. Extreme Physiology & Medicine, 3(1), 17. doi:10.1186/2046-7648-3-17
  6. J. Cox, T. Kirk, T. Ashmore, K. Willerton, R. Evans, A. Smith, et al.Nutritional ketosis alters fuel preference and thereby endurance performance in athletes Cell Metab, 24 (2016), pp. 256-268
  7. Hughes, D. A. (1999). Effects of dietary antioxidants on the immune function of middle-aged adults. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 58(1), 79–84.
  8. Lukaski, H. C. (2005). Low dietary zinc decreases erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase activities and impairs cardiorespiratory function in men during exercise. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81(5), 1045–1051. doi:10.1093/ajcn/81.5.1045
  9. Ozturk, A., Baltaci, A. K., Mogulkoc, R., Oztekin, E., Sivrikaya, A., Kurtoglu, E., & Kul, A. (2003). Effects of zinc deficiency and supplementation on malondialdehyde and glutathione levels in blood and tissues of rats performing swimming exercise. Biological Trace Element Research, 94(2), 157–166. doi:10.1385/BTER:94:2:157
  10. Van Loan, M. D., Sutherland, B., Lowe, N. M., Turnlund, J. R., & King, J. C. (1999). The effects of zinc depletion on peak force and total work of knee and shoulder extensor and flexor muscles. International Journal of Sport Nutrition, 9(2), 125–135. doi:10.1123/ijsn.9.2.125
  11. Fok, T. F. (2003). Preterm infants – nutritional requirements and management. In Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition (pp. 4784–4792). Elsevier.
  12. UpToDate. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2022, from Uptodate.com website: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/physiology-of-gastric-acid-secretion
  13. Skrovanek, S., DiGuilio, K., Bailey, R., Huntington, W., Urbas, R., Mayilvaganan, B., … Mullin, J. M. (2014). Zinc and gastrointestinal disease. World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology, 5(4), 496–513. doi:10.4291/wjgp.v5.i4.496
  14. Maares, M., & Haase, H. (2020). A guide to human zinc absorption: General overview and recent advances of in vitro intestinal models. Nutrients, 12(3), 762. doi:10.3390/nu12030762
  15. Croteau, E., Castellano, C.-A., Richard, M. A., Fortier, M., Nugent, S., Lepage, M., … Cunnane, S. C. (2018). Ketogenic medium chain triglycerides increase brain energy metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease: JAD, 64(2), 551–561. doi:10.3233/JAD-180202
  16. Pfeiffer, C. C., & Braverman, E. R. (1982). Zinc, the brain and behavior. Biological Psychiatry, 17(4), 513–532.
  17. Choi, S., Hong, D. K., Choi, B. Y., & Suh, S. W. (2020). Zinc in the brain: Friend or foe? International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(23), 8941. doi:10.3390/ijms21238941
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