Current Application of Dietary or Enteral Medium-Chain Triglycerides in a Chinese General Hospital: A Preliminary Investigation and Evidence-Based Evaluation

Abstract

Background: Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs)are of nutritional interest for unique properties on ingestion, absorption and metabolism. However, the current situation of dietary and enteral MCTs application in Chinese hospitalized patients has been seldom investigated or evaluated. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 46 hospitalized patients who were administered MCTs therapy between January, 2012 and December, 2013 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. The clinical parameters of subjects were evaluated 2 weeks after intervention. All indications and outcomes of MCTs therapy underwent evidence-based evaluation. A survey was conducted on a random sample of 77 doctors to clarify the awareness and knowledge of MCTs therapy among clinicians. Results: Among the total 46 cases undergoing MCTs therapy, there were 21 cases of gastrointestinal dysfunction (with improvement in 15 cases), 15 cases of lymphatic anomalies (with improvement in 7 cases), 5 cases of dyslipidemia (with improvement in 3 cases), 4 cases of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (with improvement in 2 cases) and 1 case of epilepsy (without improvement). All indications were in agreement with evidence from previous literature. Although MCTs were utilized in an increasing number of patients, the survey revealed poor knowledge on physiochemical properties, medical indications and therapeutic mechanisms of MCTs among clinicians. Conclusions: MCTs therapy has beneficial effects on management of gastrointestinal malabsorption, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, intestinal lymphangiectasia and dyslipidemia. Randomized control trials with larger samples and longer follow-ups are required to further testits efficacy, and more educational programs are needed to expand knowledge of MCTs therapy for clinicians.