Medium-chain Triglycerides

Synonyms: Bergabest; caprylic/capric triglyceride; Captex 300; Captex 355; Crodamol GTCC-PN; glyceryl tricaprylate/caprate; Labrafac CC; Labrafac Lipo; MCT oil; Miglyol 810; Miglyol 812; Myritol; Neobee M5; Nesatol; oleum neutrale; oleum vegetable tenue; thin vegetable oil; triglycerida saturata media; Waglinol 3/9280

Description: A colorless to slightly yellowish oily liquid that is practically
odorless and tasteless. It solidifies at about 0C. The oil is free from
catalytic residues or the products of cracking.

Chemical Name: Medium-chain triglycerides

Emulsifying agent; solvent; suspending agent; therapeutic agent.

• Medium-chain triglycerides have been used in a variety of pharmaceutical formulations including oral, parenteral, and topical preparations.

• In oral formulations, medium-chain triglycerides are used as the base for the preparation of oral emulsions, microemulsions, selfemulsifying systems, solutions, or suspensions of drugs that are unstable or insoluble in aqueous media, e.g. calciferol.

• Mediumchain triglycerides have also been investigated as intestinalabsorption enhancers and have additionally been used as a filler in capsules and sugar-coated tablets, and as a lubricant or antiadhesion agent in tablets.

• In parenteral formulations, medium-chain triglycerides have similarly been used in the production of emulsions, solutions, or suspensions intended for intravenous administration.

• In rectal formulations, medium-chain triglycerides have been used in the preparation of suppositories containing labile materials.

• In cosmetics and topical pharmaceutical preparations, medium-chain triglycerides are used as a component of ointments, creams, and liquid emulsions.

• Therapeutically, medium-chain triglycerides have been used as nutritional agents.

• Diets containing medium-chain triglycerides are used in conditions associated with the malabsorption of fat, such as cystic fibrosis, since medium-chain triglycerides are more readily digested than long-chain triglycerides.

• Medium-chain triglycerides have been particularly investigated for their use in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) regimens in combination with longchain triglycerides.

• Although similar to long-chain triglycerides, medium-chain triglycerides have a number of advantages in pharmaceutical formulations, which include better spreading properties on the skin; no impedance of skin respiration; good penetration properties; good emollient and cosmetic properties; no visible film on the skin surface; good compatibility; good solvent properties; and good stability against oxidation.

Preparations containing medium-chain triglycerides should not come into contact with polystyrene containers or packaging components since the plastic rapidly becomes brittle upon contact. Low-density polyethylene should also not be used as a packaging material as the medium-chain triglycerides readily penetrate the plastic, especially at high temperatures, forming an oily film on the outside. High-density polyethylene is a suitable packaging material. Closures based on phenol resins should be tested before use for compatibility with medium-chain triglycerides. Polyvinyl chloride packaging should also be tested for compatibility since mediumchain triglycerides can dissolve some plasticizers, such as phthalates, out of the plastic. Materials recommended as safe for packaging medium-chain triglycerides are low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, glass, and metal.

Medium-chain triglycerides are used in a variety of pharmaceutical formulations including oral, parenteral, and topical products, and are generally regarded as essentially nontoxic and nonirritant materials. In acute toxicology studies in animals and humans, no irritant or other adverse reactions have been observed; for example, when they were patch-tested on more than 100 individuals, no irritation was produced on either healthy or eczematous skin. Medium-chain triglycerides are not irritating to the eyes.

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled.

Coconut oil; suppository bases, hard fat; vegetable oil, hydrogenated.