Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36273115›Full record

SynthesisBMC geriatrics2022

Medium-chain triglycerides may improve memory in non-demented older adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Panagiotis Giannos, Konstantinos Prokopidis, Irene Lidoriki, Konstantinos K Triantafyllidis, Konstantinos S Kechagias, Kamil Celoch, Darren G Candow, Sergej M Ostojic, Scott C Forbes

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC geriatrics, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Edible Safety Evaluation ofFoods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 8 institutions in 5 countries.

Panagiotis Giannos *Society of Meta-Research and Biomedical Innovation, London, UK. panagiotis.giannos19@imperial.ac.uk.
Konstantinos Prokopidis *Society of Meta-Research and Biomedical Innovation, London, UK.
Irene LidorikiFirst Department of Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laikon General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Konstantinos K TriantafyllidisSociety of Meta-Research and Biomedical Innovation, London, UK.
Konstantinos S KechagiasSociety of Meta-Research and Biomedical Innovation, London, UK.
Kamil CelochDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, USA.
Darren G CandowFaculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Sergej M OstojicDepartment of Nutrition and Public Health, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway.
Scott C ForbesDepartment of Physical Education Studies, Faculty of Education, Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
Brandon University · CAChelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust · GBLaiko General Hospital of Athens · GRMusgrove Park Hospital · GBNova Southeastern University · USUniversity of Agder · NOUniversity of Liverpool · GBUniversity of Regina · CA

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/P020941/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundKetosis has been exploited for its neuroprotective impact and treatment of neurological conditions via ketone production. Exogenous medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) supplementation may induce nutritional ketosis. The aim of this systematic review is to explore the effects of MCTs on memory function in older adults without cognitive impairment.

methodsA systematic literature search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science was employed from inception until April 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, investigating the impact of MCT oils on components of memory. Risk of bias (RoB2) tool was utilized for quality assessment.

resultsSix trials were included for qualitative synthesis, in which two studies examined the effect of MCTs through a ketogenic meal. MCT supplementation compared to controls was associated with improved indices of memory function in 4 out of 6 studies, particularly working memory. A meta-analysis was not employed due to the low number of studies, therefore, a true effect measure of MCT supplementation was not explored.

conclusionsMCT supplementation may enhance working memory in non-demented older adults. These effects may be more prominent in individuals with lower baseline scores, from short and long-term supplementation. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings in terms of optimal dose and MCTs composition, which may protect from memory decline during aging.

Indexed as

Ketone BodiesKetosisAgedHumansOilsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTriglyceridesKetone BodiesOilsTriglyceridesCognitive functionMedium-chain triglyceridesMemoryNon-dementedNutritional ketosis

Identifiers

PMID36273115
PMCPMC9588230
OpenAlexW4307136179

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.