30 g/day ketogenic MCT drink improved memory tests in MCI over 6 months.
For diagnosed MCI only, not healthy users. Titrate from 5 g/day with food to avoid diarrhea and cramps. 30 g/day adds about 250 kcal.
MCT oil (Medium-chain triglyceride oil (C8/C10 ketogenic)) is a cognitive / metabolic with evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. We track 1 products containing MCT oil. Typical doses range from 14000 to 14000 mg per serving. The top-ranked product scores 5.5 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $23.77 per month.
| Product | Brand | Dose | Price/mo | 3rd-party tested | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCT Oil 100% Pure | NOW Foods | 14000 mg | $23.77 | No | 5.5 |
Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard. See how we score.
Caprylic/capric (C8/C10) triglyceride oil converted rapidly to ketones. Ordinary coconut oil is not trial-equivalent.
BENEFIC (MCI, 6 months): ketogenic MCT drink 15 g twice daily improved free/cued recall, category fluency, naming and trail-making versus placebo. Brain ketone metabolism rose 230% in the imaging cohort.
For diagnosed MCI only, not healthy users. Titrate from 5 g/day with food to avoid diarrhea and cramps. 30 g/day adds about 250 kcal.
C8/C10 triglycerides converted to ketone bodies that partially bypass the cerebral glucose-use deficit seen in MCI.
BENEFIC cognition RCT positive across 4 domains (PMID 33103819); imaging cohort: +230% brain ketone metabolism at 30 g/day (PMID 31027873). AC-1202 (N=152): cognitive improvement in APOE4 non-carriers (PMID 19664276). Systematic review of 13 RCTs: heterogeneous, unresolved APOE4 modification (PMID 39047293).
Ketones (BHB) peak 1-2 hours after intake, clear within 4-6 hours.
Diarrhea, cramps, nausea and bloating are dose-limiting; titrate up slowly. About 250 kcal/day at trial dose. Caution in liver disease, diabetes on glucose-lowering medication, ketoacidosis risk.
The trial dose above is our editorial pick from the published human trials for this ingredient. We choose the dose that the best-available studies used on the endpoint most relevant to longevity. The range shows the lowest and highest doses tested in published trials. The landmark studies below are the papers we read to set it. You can click through and check our work.
When new trials publish, our automated sweeps flag them. If a new study materially changes the dose, we update it through editorial review and record the old dose, new dose, and the triggering study in every affected product's recommendation history. The dose is never changed automatically.
Regulatory events, evidence grade changes, and key research milestones for MCT oil, most recent first. Studies link to the paper; regulatory entries name and link the responsible authority.
MCI, 6 months, ketogenic MCT drink 15 g twice daily: free/cued recall (p=0.047), category fluency (p=0.024), naming (p=0.033) and trail-making errors (p=0.017) improved versus placebo.
Read study →N=52 MCI, 30 g/day for 6 months: brain ketone metabolism +230% (p<0.001); glucose uptake unchanged.
Read study →N=152 mild-moderate Alzheimer's: 20 g/day ketogenic agent improved cognition in APOE4 non-carriers only.
Read study →13 RCTs of exogenous ketones in mild neurocognitive disorder and Alzheimer's: heterogeneous results, APOE4 effect modification unresolved.
Read study →All products in our catalog that contain MCT oil, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
NOW FoodsDaily use may exceed one serving
Status as recorded in the catalog from brand materials; not independently verified by NO1GEVITY.
Editorial score, not proof that this product works. Research-dose calculations are not dosing advice.
Molecules in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside MCT oil in our catalogue.
Nothing else in the database sits close enough to this molecule to list.
See MCT oil in context: the mechanism it acts through, the biomarker it moves, the products that dose it, and the trials that tested it.
View MCT oil on the Longevity Map →Caprylic/capric (C8/C10) triglyceride oil converted rapidly to ketones. Ordinary coconut oil is not trial-equivalent.
The trial dose in published human studies is 30000 mg per day, with a range of 10000 to 30000 mg per day. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Diarrhea, cramps, nausea and bloating are dose-limiting; titrate up slowly. About 250 kcal/day at trial dose. Caution in liver disease, diabetes on glucose-lowering medication, ketoacidosis risk.
We track 1 products containing MCT oil. The top-ranked product scores 5.5 out of 10 on our composite scale, which evaluates dose, evidence, price, third-party testing, and transparency. See the comparison table above. Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard.
MCT oil has evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. Grade A means replicated human RCTs with hard endpoints. Grade B means human RCTs with biomarker outcomes. Grade C means mixed or small human trials. See our evidence grading methodology.
Evidence grades are reviewed when new human RCTs are published. Product counts update automatically as new products are added. Dose ranges reflect published trial data, not brand recommendations. Read how we verify.