When We Ask ‘Is MCT Oil Bad for Cholesterol?’ Are We Asking the Wrong Question at the Right Time?

MCT Oil: the supplement that raises eyebrows, but not your cholesterol. If you’ve ever wondered if MCT oil is bad for cholesterol, congratulations—you’ve stumbled upon the right question at possibly the wrong time. Because the real answer is more interesting than a simple yes or no.

Here at WillPowders, we like to think of ourselves as your wellness wingpersons.  We aim to make your life healthier, longer, and, at the very least, cause no harm. Think of us as the opposite of a stressful email — we’re here to help you step off the treadmill of modern diets and back into a body that knows what it’s doing (with a little help from science).  So, does MCT oil negatively affect cholesterol? Let’s dive into what the experts have to say.

Spoiler alert: A systematic review in 2021, conducted by a group of scientists, concluded that MCT oil does not significantly impact total cholesterol, LDL (the so-called "bad" cholesterol), or HDL (the "good" cholesterol) levels. The confidence interval on their findings is solid, meaning we can be pretty sure about this.  They found that MCT oil “is unlikely to cause meaningful changes” in these cholesterol markers.

It’s true that MCT oil is technically a saturated fat, and for a long time, saturated fats have been labelled as public health enemy number one.  But it turns out, not all saturated fats are created equal.  Unlike their longer-chain cousins, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are absorbed differently by the body.  They skip the lymphatic system entirely and go straight to the liver, where they’re converted into ketones — essentially acting like a rapid energy source instead of sitting around clogging up arteries .

So, hands off the panic button!  MCTs don’t behave like the typical saturated fats that cling to your arteries like a backpacker to a budget hostel.  Instead, they’re whisked off to your liver to get used up for fuel, no insulin spike in sight.

If you’re just asking if MCT oil is bad for cholesterol, you’re missing a larger conversation.  Studies show that while MCT oil can slightly increase triglycerides — a type of fat found in the blood — the change is considered minor and unlikely to have a significant impact on heart disease risk at an individual level . Triglycerides usually come from a high-carb diet, and the effect of MCT oil on triglycerides might be called a drop in the cholesterol ocean compared to that of high carbs.

If lowering carbs and getting more physically active (a well-known triglyceride buster) is your goal, incorporating MCT oil into a balanced diet might just be a no-brainer.  After all, your body is designed to thrive on the right types of fats, and MCT oil seems to get an enthusiastic thumbs-up from your liver.  However, if you suffer from liver disease, ask a health professional about taking MCT oil.  Safety first, everyone!