Upgraded MCT Oil vs Upgraded Brain Octane
If you want to read a little more about why I’m even addressing this question, you can check out my rough draft version of this post here. Essentially it’s this:
- Upgraded MCT Oil is marketed as being more beneficial for stimulating metabolism while somewhat helping with brain function and is 100% Capric-Caprylic acid (says so right on the front of the bottle, I will explain what these are later).
- Upgraded Brain Octane is marketed as being primarily for improving brain function. The main difference from MCT Oil being that this is 100% C-8 (says so right on the front of the bottle, I will explain what C-8 is later).
I wanted to know why. If these are both essentially MCTs which we know are broken down into ketones which are then metabolized by both the brain and the body, why would one be more advantageous than the other?
Come along for the ride if you want to know the answer…
What are MCTs?
Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) are molecules composed of 6 – 12 carbon length fatty acids attached to a glycerol molecule.
Once the fatty acids are detached from the glycerol, they are called medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs).
Caprylic acid is an 8-carbon chain (C8) fatty acid that is also known as octanoic acid.
Capric acid is a 10-carbon chain (C10) fatty acid that is also known is decanoic acid.
The typical MCT mixture is made of a majority of C8 and C10 with the ratios as follows (1):
- C6: 1-2%
- C8: 65-75%
- C10: 25-35%
- C12: 1-2%
MCT Absorption
I won’t go too far into the details here, but MCTs are absorbed by the intestines, broken down into MCFAs, and processed by the liver much faster (2) than longer chain fats because of their small size and the fact that they can bypass certain rate limiting enzymatic steps that long chain fats can’t (3)
Once they get to the liver they are broken down into Acetyl-CoA which can then do a few things:
- Krebs Cycle – Provide direct energy for the cell
- Ketogenesis – Converted into ketones and then sent out into the blood stream.
- Elongation of fatty acids – Adding more energy to fats the liver is making for the body
- De novo synthesis of fatty acids – Making brand new fats for the body
Option 2 accounts for the majority of the action and that is where we get ketones from when MCT oils are ingested.
These ketones go out into the body where they provide quick and efficient energy for our brain, heart and other tissues.
So when the descriptions say that these are a fast source of fuel, it’s a fact.
Just to reiterate, both C8 and C10 get broken down into the same molecule, Acetyl-CoA, which is then converted into ketones. It’s these ketones that have been shown to help with weight loss by stimulating the metabolism and by suppressing appetite, among other things.
So at this point, there is no real difference between C8 or C10, they are both good for the metabolism.
Direct Passage of MCFAs into the Blood
Now here is where things become very interesting. Once MCTs are broken down into their component MCFAs, octanoic acid and decanoic acid, a small amount of these can bypass the liver without being processed and spread throughout the body (4-7).
MCFAs and the Blood Brain Barrier
Once octanoic acid and decanoic acid reach the brain, both of them can pass through the blood brain barrier (8-12).
Again, at this point, nothing is different between C8 and C10.
C8 vs C10 aka Octanoic Acid vs Decanoic Acid aka Caprylic Acid vs Capric Acid
This is the step where we can actually address the question of whether or not one is better for the brain.
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Seizure Control
In one of the most cited papers, Sills et al examined the role of octanoic and decanoic acids in controlling seizures in pediatric patients (13). After giving an adding MCT oil do their diet (81% C8 and 15% C10), she found that seizures were much better controlled, and they were able to detect blood levels of both C8 and C10. They also found that there was a much greater concentration of C8 in the blood compared to C10 (it was never mentioned that this was supposed to happen given the concentrations found in the MCT oil they administered).
This was the study that kicked off all the other studies exploring the benefits of MCT oil and seizures using octanoic acid as the blood marker that was followed. The scientific community surmised that since C8 was the majority component of MCT oil, it must also be the reason for all the benefits seen with MCT oils as well. There were numerous studies thus focused on the effects of C8 on seizures (14, 22).
It was only recently that more data as started coming out suggesting that C8 (15, 16, 17) is actually ineffective in controlling seizures, and that C10 is the main player (18).
A very recently published paper by Hughes et al this January explored the effect of C8 and C10 on the mitochondria of neurons (19) because some believe that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a significant role in seizures (20). In this experiment, they exposed the neurons of mice to varying concentrations of C8 : C10
- 40 : 60
- 20 : 80
- 10 : 90
- 0 : 100
They found that in the concentrations that were 100% C10 and 90% C10 to 10% C8 there was an increase in mitochondrial activity and number. This led them to suspect that it was in fact the C10 that was the primary player in reducing seizure activity.
So at least in terms of seizure control, it’s starting to look like C10 aka capric acid, is the main factor when taking MCTs.
How much this translates into the benefit of ‘improved brain function,’ I’m not sure…
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Again touching upon the theory that mitochondrial dysfunction is at the root of a neurologic process, in 2013 Zhao et al examined the benefits of C8 as a treatment for ALS in mice (21). In mice treated with C8, they found that there was a significantly higher number of neurons in the spinal cord, meaning that C8 helped prevent the typical destruction of neurons that were seen with the control mice.
If this panned out to be apply to humans as well it would be huge!
I looked into the C8 that they used for their study and it was obtained here. As you can see, this pharmaceutical grade caprylic acid is going for $350 per liter, which makes the Upgraded Brain Octane (32oz) being sold for $45.95 seem like a total bargain!
Given the findings with seizures, I would be very interested to see the effect 100% C10 would have on the ALS.
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
Just released this year, Sharma et al explore the use of a proprietary MCT oil blend called Axona on the treatment of Alzheimer’s (23). The most I can find on Axona is that “the largest ingredient…is caprylic acid,” so who knows what the concentration is.
The thinking behind the benefits of MCTs in AD is that in AD patients there are reports suggesting that brain glucose metabolism is slowed which can have a bad effect on the hippocampus, the area responsible for memory. Scientists have hypothesized that providing an increased energy supply to the brain via ketones can have a beneficial effect.
Unfortunately, what they found in their review of clinical trials was that MCTs mildly improved cognition in a particular subset of patients: those that were apolipoprotein E4-negative genotype.
So at least in terms of Alzheimer’s disease, MCTs are somewhat beneficial in a specific subset, and we have no idea whether it is the C8 or C10 or both that provides the benefit.
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Cognition in Hypoglycemic Type 1 Diabetics
This was a very interesting study most closely answering the question of whether MCTs are good for improving brain function or not.
Page et al administered MCTs (67% C8, 27% C10, and 6% other) to type 1 diabetics who underwent a barrage of cognitive function tests while they had normal blood sugars.
They then induced hypoglycemia and performed the cognitive tests again. During this phase, the experimental group received MCTs while the control group received a placebo.
Normally people who are hypoglycemic will demonstrate a decline in cognitive function, ie it will be harder for them to focus and pay attention, they won’t be able to remember things as well, it will be more difficult performing higher level calculations etc.
The scientists wanted to determine if MCTs could provide an alternative fuel source during hypoglycemic episodes (24), thereby preventing a decline in cognitive function.
They found that MCT ingestion significantly prevented the expected decline in memory and attention during hypoglycemia.
In the same study they also tried to determine if it was the ketones (Beta hydroxybutyrate) or the MCFA octanoic acid itself that preserved brain function in mice brains, and found that it was in fact the ketones that were responsible for that benefit. Octanoic acid (C8) by itself didn’t improve brain function.
Unfortunately they didn’t measure the effect of decanoic acid (C10) despite the fact that it constituted 27% of their MCT solution.
So again, here we know that ketones are good for the brain and MCTs consisting of both C8 and C10 are good for the brain, but no clear answer for C8 vs C10.
CONCLUSION: Upgraded MCT Oil vs Upgraded Brain Octane
MCTs are good for the brain because they provide direct and indirect sources of energy for the brain:
- Direct – The fatty acids themselves, C8 and C10 (caprylic and capric aka octanoic vs decanoic acid) can be metabolized by the brain.
- Indirect – MCTs (both C8 and C10) are broken down into ketones, which can then be metabolized by the brain.
After reading this I hope you will come to the same conclusions that I have:
- Both Upgraded MCT Oil and Upgrade Brain Octane are good for stimulating the metabolism
- Both are broken down into the same molecule, Acetyl-CoA, which is then used to make ketones, which stimulate the metabolism and suppress appetite.
- Both Upgraded MCT Oil and Upgraded Brain Octane provide ketones which are good for the brain
- There isn’t enough data out there to indicate whether Upgraded Brain Octane is actually better for cognitive function. What we DO have data for is:
- C10 is actually more important in seizure prevention than C8, so if you have seizures, Upgraded MCT Oil will be better for you.
- C8 is better than nothing in preserving spinal neurons in mice with ALS, so if you have ALS or any other neuro-degenerative disorder Upgraded Brain Octane MAY be better for you. No one has looked into the effects of different ratios of C8 : C10.
- MCTs are mildly helpful if you have Alzheimer’s and have the Apolipoprotein E4 (-) genotype, however we don’t know which would be better for you, Upgraded Brain Octane or Upgraded MCT Oil since we don’t know what the hell the breakdown of Axona is.
- MCTs are great if you are prone to hypoglycemia, so if you are prone to hypoglycemic episodes, Upgraded MCT Oil is what you should take since it most closely resembles the solution used in this study.
What Will I Be Doing?
I’ve personally used both Upgraded MCT ($29.95) and Upgraded Brain Octane ($45.95) and haven’t noticed a difference, so given the price differential and the current data available, I’m probably just going to stick with Upgraded MCT Oil from now on.
UPDATE:
The MCT Oil has now been rebranded as XCT Oil. You can save some money buying it as a 3 pack for $80.88 from the Bulletproof website.
Upgraded Brain Octane has been shortened to just Brain Octane. The Bulletproof site also offers a savings if you buy it as a 3 pack for $124.08.
If you’re more comfortable with Amazon, they have XCT for $31.25 and Brain Octane for $42.05.
RESOURCES
I’ve done my best to include all the relevant research available. I’ve personally read through each of these studies and have provided the pubmed links below. Some articles will be available in their entirety for free, others will require a membership or payment. Since I have some academic affiliations, I was able to get access to all of the full articles.
(10) Spector R. Fatty acid transport through the blood-brain barrier. J Neurochem. 1988 Feb;50(2):639-43.
“so given the price differential and the current data available…”
32 ounces of coconut oil can be had for less than $20 and the only major difference is more C12 (laurate). Did you come across anything which suggested laurate (or coconut oil) is less efficacious than MCT oil? Seems like a bargain to me.
Not that this really matters to the issues you raised here, but for what it’s worth, laurate also boosts HDL (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12716665).
Thanks for bringing up this point. This is the main difference between coconut oil and mcts:
Coconut oil composition:
C8: 5-9%
C10: 6-10%
C10 (hexoic, I’m not sure how this is different than capric acid): 0.8%
C12 (lauric acid aka dodecanoic acid): 44-52%
C14 and longer: 13-42%
So as you can see, one of the main differences is the higher percentage of long chain fatty acids (C14 and longer), which don’t have the same ketogenic and fast absorptive properties of medium chain fatty acids (C6-C12).
One of the things that’s bad about eating too many long chain fatty acids, is that they can be converted to fat much more easily than MCTs.
Regarding lauric acid, I haven’t looked too deeply in the literature regarding the effects of this on neurons, since most of the research has been focused on capric and caprylic acid… but will let you know if I find anything.
Given what I’ve discovered about MCTs so far, I plan on either putting together a series of posts and/or an e-book going into further detail about what I’ve found.
Of particular interest is the stuff I’ve come across in how effective MCTs are for weight loss. Lots of data out there that I’m starting to put together. I’m convinced enough that I’m trying to use more MCTs throughout my day.
Real clinical research data too… not just claims/marketing on health podcasts and testimonials!
I’m definitely a believer in MCTs now, more so than before.
Thanks for the info! And please do let me know if you release an e-book; this is a very interesting topic.
Will do for sure! It’s coming along very slowly… lot of papers to go over still!
There’s a small amount of C:6 in coconut oil as well:)
Wow! Thanks for finding this!
Thanks for the HDL article too… I’ll add that to my collection of articles!
I should also add that (lauric acid aka dodecanoic acid) also has the same benefits of super fast absorption and ketogenesis seen with capric (C10) and caprylic (C8) acid, so this is great for stimulating the metabolism and brain, using coconut oil.
The only issue to consider is the amount of Long chain fats you’re receiving, which if it is on the higher end of the spectrum, 42% would really offset the metabolic benefits seen with ketogenesis if weight loss/body recomposition is your goal.
Hi! Thank you for the interesting information. How do you incorporate MCTs into your diet? How much and how often would you recommend for weigtht loss (is it different for men and women)? At some point, don’t all of the extra calories cause weight gain even if low carb/ketogenic? Thank you very much!
Right now I’m only taking 2 tbsps per day… one in the morning, and one in the evening.
I’m not following any particular protocol though, since I’m still reading through a big pile of papers focused on MCT and metabolism.
What has been researched is all over the place, 15 gm, 50 gm, 30%-50% of caloric intake, etc… So it’s taking me a while to try to put it all together.
Regarding excess MCTs… it seems to be self limiting, because it elicits GI distress and diarrhea, and is the main reason people can’t tolerate it.
I’ll hopefully be able to put out a post about this stuff soon… time permitting.
Thank you!
This is a very helpful piece for those of us who cringe a bit at that $45 price tag. I picked up MCT oil from Vitacost (I don’t have any affiliation with them, just a customer) that is, according to the label at least, the equivalent of the Upgraded MCT, but a bit less expensive.
I will mention that if you suddenly change your morning routine from a cup of tea and a slice of toast in favor of slamming two big cups of “upgraded” coffee packed with delicious butter and oil, you’re going to suffer “gastric distress.” “Gastric distress” means “You will poop the liquid nuclear poop of despair, many, many times. Your marriage may fail, children will flee from you, and you’ll probably get audited.”
Remember to start slow and take betaine HCL along with your MCT to avoid “gastric distress.”
I second your description of ‘liquid nuclear poop of despair’ …. when I’ve over done it with MCTs, a good 6 hrs was spent either on the toilet… or curled in a fetal position because of the cramps..
The other suggestion I’ve found that works is to eat it with food. I’ll sometimes put 1-2 tbsp over whatever veggies or meat dishes that I’m eating. this seems to really improve my tolerance.
clear and concise analysis, thanks!
“The only issue to consider is the amount of Long chain fats you’re receiving, which if it is on the higher end of the spectrum, 42% would really offset the metabolic benefits seen with ketogenesis if weight loss/body recomposition is your goal.”
Are you proposing that with LCFAs we’re seeing a scenario of diminishing returns relative to SCFAs? i.e., ratio => #ketones to #calories…is diminishing with LCFAs vs SCFAs?
That’s what I think thus far from everything I’ve seen… I’m still trying to gather more info, so my views may change. I’d like to find a place that will go into the ratio of SCFAs to LCFAs in various brands of coconut oils, which would really help!
Thank you for the detailed breakdown. I have also notice nothing substantial between the two regarding performance.
What do you think about the kidney stone warning on the brain octane bottle? I didn’t see that on the Upgraded MCT label.
You know what? Thanks for pointing that out to me, I never notied it. I can’t think of why C8 would affect kidney stones…. it’s not processed at all by the kidneys
the only connection I can think of is that some patients who take MCTs also restrict fluids; the latter increases the risk for kidney stones in this population. I didn’t think this was due to C8…
I also was wondering about the kidney stone risk disclaimer on the C8 product page. I cannot find any mentions of this other than the coupled with fluid restriction risk associated with older seizer prevention practices @CaloriesProper spoke of. I cannot see how that would be exclusive to C8 though; the C8/C12 combo does not have the same disclaimer.
Here’s an advantage to Caprylic Acid – it fights candida and there are some research studies that show it can help to protect the lining of the stomach (sorry – couldn’t find it via Dr. Google – was reading it yesterday).
From a brain function stand point – anything that is going to improve gut function improves cognitive function. This is why I suspect Dave refers to it as “Brain Octane”. I have to say the best effect I have for dieting though is with coconut oil because lauric acid suppresses appetite.
Great post BTW – love it.
This is what I need it for, fighting Candida. I’m confused as to which one has more Caprylic Acid in it. That’s the one I need right now. If C-8 and Caprylic Acid are the same thing, I don’t understand why they would differentiate between them on the bottle labels. I’d get the one that says 100% caprylic acid but the Brain Octane says it’s 16x stronger than coconut oil. … I’m confused. which one has more potent caprylic acid?
If all you want is caprylic acid, then Brain Octane is what you are looking for.
I have no clue how they arrived to the calculation of 16x stronger than coconut oil for the upgraded brain octane… or 6x stronger than coconut oil for the upgraded MCT, and haven’t been able to find anything in their material to clarify this.
Perhaps it has to do with the concentrations?
Thank you for posting this thorough and informative article. I have just started drinking Bulletproof coffee and ordered the Brain Octane, since I have been diagnosed as an adult with ADD and wondered if it would be better. I did notice a difference when I got up to 2 T of oil, but that effect seems to have tapered off. I’ve noticed I’m drinking more coffee now, though, and may cut back on the butter. However, after reading your article, I’m starting to re-think my approach altogether. As a child, I had mild seizures which were controlled by the time I went to college. I was off medication completely by my late twenties. Still, MCT might be better for my particular brain; I’m not sure.
I appreciate your kind words. It probably wouldn’t hurt to give MCT oil a try for a week and then Brain Octane a try for another week and see if you feel any different. That may help guide you more as to what works best for you. Keep us updated! I’m sure other readers would love to hear about your experience as well.
Axona is Caprylic (C:8) – here’s a list of the ingredients – you will see that it is mixed with a few other ingredients…
Ingredient List in Descending Order of Quantity by Weight
Caprylic Triglyceride, Potassium Caseinate (milk-derived protein), Maltodextrin,
Whey Protein (milk-derived), Sugar, Sunflower Oil, Dimagnesium Phosphate,
Tricalcium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Soy Lecithin, Distilled
Monoglyceride. Contains less than 2% of: Silicon Dioxide, Natural Vanilla
Bean Extract, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium.
Nutritional content for each 40 g packet (as manufactured): total calories (217),
protein (8 g), carbohydrate (7 g),* caprylic triglyceride (20 g), calcium (240 mg),
potassium (255 mg), sodium (58 mg), phosphorus (363 mg), magnesium (116 mg).
*Total carbohydrates include 2 g sugar and a negligible amount of lactose.
Pretty! Thiss was an extremely wonderful post. Many thanks for providing this information.
I have used them both, and never noticed any difference in performance, big difference in price. Now I just used upgraded Mct for my coffee and save the Brain Octane for adding to olive oil for salad dressing or making mayo with, since Dave stated that it has less gastric effects (you can eat more without “disaster pants.”) Has been working well.
I tend to favour three heuristics with fatty acids: the shorter the better, the broader the spectrum of fatty acids at once the better, the more intact (less processed) the better. That said, I seem to tolerate Brain Octane better than MCT oil in terms of gastric distress, easily having 3 tablespoons or more per day with zero gastric effect. For my bullet coffee (decaf), in addition to the Brain Octane I have some pasture butter (which evidently has over 400 different fatty acids), coconut oil (again a broad spectrum) and 100% dark chocolate. This seems to work well for me. I generally go for a walk/run/sprint with the dog for half an hour every morning after my coffee (no carbs, so I start my day burning fat) and have plenty of boost, as well as brain energy. I have zero issue regarding percent stored body fat despite (actually, because of) the high fat content.
I get my omega-6 fats from soaked and dried nuts, so the fat is intact in cells. This intuitively seems better to me in terms of oxidation of polyunsaturated fat and rate of absorption from the gut. I’m not aware of any studiies on this. Simply intuition.
Thanks for the great information. Have been using bulletproof products now for 4 months with great results for my 16 year Son and I. There are other less expensive MCT oils out there(NOW brand). Is there a difference in performance or are there non bias comparisons of many brands? I have not been able to find any comparisons.
Thanks….
I’m actually not sure. I’ve tried a couple other brands and haven’t really noticed a difference… Haven’t tried the Now though.
The other brands I tried were actually more expensive than the BP products though because I bought them at a natural foods store.
Now brand is pharmaceutical grade and found it for about 17 w shipping.
Can children take the Upgraded MCT oils or Upgraded Brain Octanes? Is there any info as to the safety or effects? I would be very interested.
Thanks!
Well, I can’t say for certain about the info of Upgraded MCT or Upgraded Brain Octane… but in a lot of the papers I’ve looked at here, MCT oil has been used specifically for kids with a history of epilepsy, and was shown to effectively decrease their rate of seizure while at the same time allowing them to add a bit more carbs back into their diet, making things more tasty.
Check out some of the references I have linked here.
But again, I can’t say for certain what the effect of MCT would be for healthy kids… and I don’t feel comfortable making that sort of recommendation.
Maybe it’s something you can ask the folks at Bulletproof exec?
I know that on some of the Q&A podcasts, Dave Asprey has mentioned that he gives a little bit to his own kids.
Hello,
Thanks for this article. When you were reviewing the pubmed (or other) articles, did you come across anything regarding how coconut oil is processed into MCT, and is that processing harmful in anyway.
I’m asking this from the perspective of how we are told to avoid processed foods, but is the coconut oil “processed” like extra virgin olive oil, where the olives are just squeezed really hard (I believe, and the manufacturer doesn’t use chemicals like they do with some vegetable oils.
I’ve tried to find information about the processing of coconut oil into MCTs and if this is good, bad, or indifferent and can’t find much.
Thanks!
No… unfortunately I didn’t. That was something I was super curious about also! How they go from Coconut Oil —> MCT oil.
If you find anything, please let me know!
Thank you.
Hi,thanks for your information. I am very new to all of this and as i do with all things i discover new i do my own little research on it.
As i ready more about the benefits of MCTs i am ready to buy it and try it out myself,tho i came across this youtube video of John Kiefer explaining why simple coconut oil would be better for our system ( health benefits ) versus the “Brain Octane Oil and XTC Oil’ from Bulletproof owner Dave Asprey. John mentions that MCT is only good for athletes because C8 can be “detrimental to the liver” by accumulating fat and cholesterol formation. He also points out that Dave did not do enough research on C12 which in his opinion is very important as well as a medium chain. Dave and some other articles i red point out that C12 is not a medium chain rather a long one and had not the benefits of fast absorption.id needs the “extra stop” in the liver first to be able to metabolized.
In Johns point of view coconut oil is the much better choice to get the MCTs.
Can you help me out here? im a professional dancer and i do take care about my health and body a lot. I am not interested in any cholesterol problems or fat accumulations in my liver what so ever but i a indeed very interested in increasing my energy levels and all the other health benefits i am reading about MCT. Also i am quite confused still if i should take C8 ( Brain Octane Oil) or C8 + C10 ( XTC Oil)…Dave only points out the difference in the price ( XTC being cheaper because less complicated to extract and less “clean”) and the absorption … but in your article you do show different benefits on C8 and C10 !!!
here is the link to the video :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbOetsDzkuM
and here is an Blog entry from Dave about this topic:
https://www.bulletproofexec.com/what-is-mct-oil-vs-coconut-oil/
Thank you very Much
Micky
Kiefer has said a few times in his prior podcasts that C8 can be detrimental to the liver, and unfortunately I haven’t found any research to support this.
Kiefer’s been the only person out there making this claim.
I’m not saying that it’s not true… I’m just saying that I haven’t been able to find any evidence about this.
In all the studies I’ve come across which have mainly used C8+C10 together primarily for treating kids with seizures, there has been no demonstration of liver damage… even after long term use.
So at least from the research I’ve come across there is no detrimental effect to long term use of MCT oils.
Now the question of isolated C8 vs a combination of C8 and C10? I don’t think there’s been anything out there definitely examining this… so the jury is still out.
What I CAN say is that while I appreciate Dave Asprey’s work… he does tend to overstate the benefits of things. He’s a great marketer… but not every claim he makes holds up to scrutiny.
Kiefer on the other hand has tremendous vitriol towards Dave Asprey. In some of his prior podcasts, Kiefer seems very sour that Dave Asprey ‘stole’ his idea of using MCT oil and never attributed the credit to him. So I kind of take what Kiefer says about Asprey with a grain of salt because a lot of it seems to just be sour grapes.
In your case I think it wouldn’t hurt to buy a can of coconut oil and a can of XCT oil and give them a try to see how things work out. I’d start slowly because if you go to fast you can get some GI symptoms… namely diarrhea for hours on end (yes.. this has happened to me). Coconut oil is cheaper so if they both make you feel the same, then go ahead and stay with coconut oil. If you feel better on the XCT… then you have your answer… and maybe in the future you can try a comparison with XCT and brain octane.
Personally.. I couldn’t really tell a difference between any of them!
Thanks for the fast reply…
You are right i also can’t find any other article about bad side effects of MCT towards the liver. Seems like Kiefer is the only one with this opinion.
Now to the problem if coconut of MCT. Most posts i read point out,that coconut is great to add to your diet but i definitely doesn’t have the purity of MCT. its too low on C8 and C10 and packed with C12 and so on…meaning that to be able to get fast energy and health benefits its better to take MCT as the absorption and metabolization is so much faster then coconut oil. I don’t need the extra fats that are easier stored in the fat cells ( especially in the belly area haha )
so my question is… do you feel a difference in your energy levels at all…between coconut oil and MCTs? (lets take out the division between C8 only or a combination of C8 and C10…thats something i can find out myself). Or is is all just “magic” 🙂
I personally didn’t feel a difference when I used coconut oil vs MCT oil… but I DO think it’s worth a shot for you to give the MCT oil a try.
Very interesting piece, my husband and I have been bulletproofing for about 8 months now. We’ve been using Barleans MCT swirl. I can’t find a break down of the chains. How does it compare to the Brain Octane? I’m concerned about the cost difference and if it’s worth switching! Thanks so much!
I haven’t been able to find any information regarding the Barleans MCT swirl..
I know people have just used the NOW brand MCT oil on amazon, which is reasonably priced and they haven’t complained.
Just found you – and what a treasure I’ve found. THANK YOU for this post. It’s surprising difficult to find such well research info on this topic.
Hats of to you. I’ll now be looking at the rest of your site to broaden my knowledge.
Cheers, Jenny
Glad this has been helpful for you!
Can I find 80-90%+ C10 oil somewhere? I’m interested in it for the anti-seizure like activity.
I’m actually not sure! If you’re doing it for actual anti-seizure activity, it may be better to contact a doctor more familiar with this, perhaps the folks at Johns Hopkins? They seem to be on the cutting edge of this stuff.
What is the percentage of C8 and C10 in xct oil? I cannot find it anywhere. Thanks again for sharing your info.
Unfortunately Bulletproof doesn’t specify. Best guess is something like this:
C6: 1-2%
C8: 65-75%
C10: 25-35%
C12: 1-2%
To the best of my knowledge, our MCT oil is identical – and it’s 60% C8 and 40% C10, with traces of 6 and 12. So, your guess is damned close! If there’s much C6, you’ll know it – that can taste bitter and even cause a mild “burning” sensation in your throat.
BTW, this is a great article and I’m impressed with your studied and apparently-impartial writing. There’s so much hype out there, implications of high-tech when it’s not really all that high-tech, suggestions that high-tech is better than other more natural products, and fancy naming… along with matching fancy prices.
There’s really no magic. Healthy fats are shown to be good, so enjoy them all and see what works for you. Plain old raw, virgin coconut oil is hard to beat if you’re putting it a hot drink (coffee, tea, broth) where it can liquify. MCT oil stays liquid when cold, so it works better in smoothie-type drinks or even in alcohol (yes, you can put a little MCT in your sipping rum).
Thanks for the article!
Did you have any new insights on this or do you still prefer the XCT over the Brain Octane?
Thanks, N