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PURPOSE: The brain can utilise medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) as an alternative fuel than glucose, and research has shown that MCT ingestion improves cognitive function in diseased and/or elderly individuals. The aim of this study is to determine if these improvements can also be observed in young, healthy adults. Furthermore, we aim to establish the ideal dosage and timeframe necessary for an effect. METHODS: Participants were divided equally into three groups of 10 (Placebo (0g), 12g and 18g MCT/day) and were supplemented for 4 weeks. The supplement had a C8:C10 ratio of 30:70. Participants visited the laboratory once a week for 5 weeks (baseline, test weeks 1-4) to undergo a battery of cognitive tests; Trail Making, Digit Span, Spatial Span, Covert Shift of Attention, and Rapid Visual Information Processing. RESULTS: After 2-3 weeks of supplementation, MCT ingestion enhanced performance in cognitive tasks, including: Trail Making A/B and Digit Span Forwards/Backwards (ps0.05). There were also null results in tasks measuring attention and reaction time (ps>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MCT ingestion improved cognitive performance after 2-3 weeks, with minimal difference between taking 12g and 18g MCT/day groups, suggesting a possible dose-response threshold at 12g MCT/day when supplementing over a short period.

COPD patients have reduced muscle glutamate which may contribute to an impaired response of oxidative metabolism to exercise. We hypothesised that prior glutamine supplementation would enhance View the MathML source peak, View the MathML source at lactate threshold and speed pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics in COPD. 13 patients (9 males, age 66 ± 5 years, mean ± SD) with severe COPD (mean FEV1 0.88 ± 0.23 l, 33 ± 7% predicted) performed on separate days ramp cycle-ergometry (5–10 W min−1) to volitional exhaustion and subsequently square-wave transitions to 80% estimated lactate threshold (LT) following consumption of either placebo (CON) or 0.125 g kg bm−1 of glutamine (GLN) in 5 ml kg bm−1 placebo. Oral glutamine had no effect on peak or View the MathML source at LT, {View the MathML source peak: CON = 0.70 ± 0.1 l min−1 vs. GLN = 0.73 ± 0.2 l min−1; LT: CON = 0.57 ± 0.1 l min−1 vs. GLN = 0.54 ± 0.1 l min−1} or View the MathML source kinetics {tau: CON = 68 ± 22 s vs. GLN = 68 ± 16 s}. Ingestion of glutamine before exercise did not improve indices of oxidative metabolism in this patient group.