- Is caprylic acid the same as MCT oil?
- Is caprylic acid an antifungal?
- What is the best way to take caprylic acid?
- Is caprylic acid hazardous?
- What are the industrial uses of caprylic acid?
Approximately 7% of coconut oil is caprilic acid. By 2030, caprylic acid’s global market reaches USD 2.69 million according to market research future. This component of coconut oil that is often also referred to as C8 has been growing its popularity thanks to its ability to cure digestive health issues and skin problems.
Caprylic acid is a medium-chain fatty acid containing some important things such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. Thanks to that, there are many industrial uses of caprylic acid. Not only that, but caprylic acid application also has a lot of benefits for people consuming it.
Is caprylic acid the same as MCT oil?
MCT oil means medium-chain triglyceride oil, so caprylic acid is also commercially known as MCT. MCT C8, to be precise. It is made from a further process of coconut oil. The oil can be digested by human easily, and it is good for alzheimer and dementia treatment as suggested by recent reasearch from the University of Alberta.
You might find MCT oil that contains only C8, or mixed together with C10 (another fatty acid type). To understand more about MCT oil and how it is derived from RBD coconut oil, check out our comprehensive MCT oil article here.
Is caprylic acid an antifungal?
Caprylic acid application has proven to be beneficial to solve some health issues in the human body, especially those caused by fungi thanks to its antifungal properties. Those fixable issues are as follows:
Candida
A fungal infection called Candida is a common medical problem that causes vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush, or nail fungus. As caprylic acid contains antifungal properties, it is one of the most effective cures to take care of Candida fungal infection.
Caprylic acid is able to reduce the growth of Candida albicans, which causes the infection, thanks to its ability to be dissolved into fat and enter the cell straight away to destroy the disserving fungal infection. This fatty acid can be used effectively with either a topical method or an oral method.
Skin Conditions
Human skin is vulnerable to some health problems caused by microbes or bacteria. However, those causes of certain skin conditions can be killed easily by caprylic acid with its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
Moreover, the ability of caprylic acid containing coconut oil to soothe and moisturize the skin has proven beneficial for any skin condition treatment. Virgin coconut oil, a kind of coconut oil, is believed to be able to aid in reducing inflammatory markers and improving skin barrier performance.
Digestive Disorders
Some digestive systems illnesses such as inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome are caused by inflammation or infections of bacteria. That is why caprylic acid is able to treat those ailments, thanks to the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties contained in the medium-chain fatty acid.
According to research, it is good to replace long-chain fatty acids found in animal-based food with caprylic acid from coconut oil, which is a medium-chain fatty acid. It is because the gut will be protected from any inflammation as well as the reduction in the prevalence of spontaneous colitis.
Despite that, be careful in consuming caprylic acid as the cure for digestive disorders as it can also cause side effects like stomach upset. Therefore, it is better to consult your healthcare professional first before consuming the fatty acid.
Antibiotic Resistance
Some people from around the world experience antibiotic resistance that is caused by the overuse or misuse of antibiotics. As the result, those people struggle to cure their foodborne illnesses when they happen. Luckily, caprylic acid from coconut oil can be an alternative.
Combined with hydrogen peroxide, caprylic acid can be a disinfectant to kill strains of bacteria. Some examples of those bacteria are Listeria, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella which can cause many foodborne ailments.
Cholesterol
As with any other medium-chain fatty acid, caprylic acid is believed to have a great effect on people having high cholesterol. However, some researchers are still needed to clarify the actual effect of the fatty acid on humans’ cholesterol levels.
What is the best way to take caprylic acid?
What a waste of benefits if you do not get some caprylic acid for yourself. You can easily consume coconut oil to get those benefits of the fatty acid either by swallowing it or smearing your skin with it. Just make sure that the coconut oil is edible before eating it.
If you want to consume coconut oil, you do not have to eat them in a large portion. Since you might not be able to tolerate it, the maximum volume of one tablespoon of liquid coconut oil or the equivalent of the solid form is enough for a day. Eating the oil straight away or mixing it with your favorite food or drink.
Is caprylic acid hazardous?
Just like most medicines that can cure many illnesses, caprylic acid also has side effects for those consuming it. Those side effects are mostly digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, heartburn, constipation, indigestion, stomach ache, and abdominal pain.
However, those conditions mainly happen to people who have an allergy to caprylic acid and will be gone after the fatty acid consumption is stopped. Pregnant women and breastfeeding ones are among those who are not recommended to consume caprylic acid.
That is why it is important to do a consultation with a healthcare professional about caprylic acid consumption. Moreover, consultation with a dermatologist is also needed for skin application. Still, the fatty acid’s side effects can be avoided with regular consumption of caprylic acid in the correct amount.
What are the industrial uses of caprylic acid?
Caprylic acid application extends to various industries. Three main caprylic acid industrial uses are for personal care, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries. Each of those three industries utilizes greater uses of caprylic acid compared to any other industries using the fatty acid. In addition, the global market of caprylic acid has consistently been growing since 2012.
Demand is projected to be boosted by rising government support for using organic products in industrial applications as well as escalating environmental concerns. Furthermore, the cost of producing caprylic acid with its raw materials is affordable, especially when considering its potential.
Furthermore, caprylic acid is commonly used as a disinfectant in places like healthcare, animal facilities, factories, office buildings, and schools. The fatty acid is also utilized by greenhouses and plantations as an algicide, bactericide, and fungicide. Then, it can be used in the production of dye and perfume.
There are a lot of factors that make coconut oil so precious, especially considering the caprylic acid application. This fatty acid can be found in many sources, but the fact is that coconut oil contains the most amount of caprylic acid. Therefore, there is no reason to not choose coconut oil as the source of caprylic acid for your needs.