Abstract: Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) were microencapsulated by spray-drying method with the purpose of solidification, which makes it convenient to add and store MCTs. In the present study, artificial gastric fluid was used to preliminarily investigate release characteristics in vitro of MCT microcapsules. Net basic synthetic diet, long-chain triglyceride (LCT) microcapsule-supplemented diet (the energy of LCTs accounting for about 30% of total energy) and MCT microcapsule-supplemented diet ((the energy of MCTs accounting for about 30% of total energy) were separately used to feed mice for 5 consecutive weeks. The changes in health status, body weight, the levels of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and food intake of mice were observed during the period to understand the effect of MCT microcapsules on lipid metabolism in mice. The results showed that the release of MCT microcapsules in artificial gastric fluid could last 6 h so that abdominal pain and diarrhea caused by excessive intake of MCTs at one time could be relieved. The contents of TC and LDL-C in mice were reduced by supplementing MCT microcapsules in basic synthetic diet and meanwhile, the functions to prevent obesity, reduce body weight gain and fat accumulation and attenuate fat deposition in the liver. Furthermore, the mechanisms of inhibition of body weight gain were independent on reduced energy intake.

Key words: medium-chain triglycerides, microcapsule, release in vitro, lipid metabolism