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Caprylic-Capric Triglyceride (GTCC)
Appearance and Odor: Odorless, colorless or pale yellow transparent oily liquidAlternative Name: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (GTCC)Chemical Composition: Glyceryl Tricaprylate, Glyceryl TricaprateMolecular Weight: 500
GTCC is a mixed triglyceride of glycerol and medium-chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils. It is a colorless, odorless, low-viscosity lipophilic emollient with extremely high oxidation resistance. In cosmetics, GTCC can replace various oils and fats as an emollient and lipid-enriching agent. It can also be used as a carrier and diluent in active preparations or conditioning agents such as sterols. Cosmetics containing GTCC do not require additional antioxidants or other stabilizers and will not cause adverse side effects.
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| Item | Specification |
| Product Name | Decanoyl/octanoyl-glycerides |
| English Name | Decanoyl/octanoyl-glycerides |
| Synonyms | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride; Octanoic/Decanoic Acid Triglyceride |
| CAS No. | 65381-09-1 |
| Molecular Formula | C₁₃H₂₆O₄.C₁₁H₂₂O₄ |
| Molecular Weight | 464.635 |
| Density | 0.94~0.96 |
| Acid Value | ≤0.1 mgKOH/g |
| Saponification Value | 325-345 mgKOH/g |
| Iodine Value | ≤1 g/100g |
| Peroxide Value | ≤1 meq/kg |
| Moisture | ≤0.10% |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | ≤10 ppm |
| Arsenic (as As) | ≤5 ppm |
| Properties | Transparent liquid, colorless, odorless, tasteless, low viscosity and refreshing |
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Caprylic-Capric Triglyceride (GTCC)
Caprylic-Capric Triglyceride (GTCC) has gained increasing attention due to its unique physicochemical properties and nutritional health benefits. It is a high-grade, functional nutritional oil that is colorless and transparent.
In 1986, GTCC was included in China's national standard GB2760—86 Hygienic Standards for the Use of Food Additives as a food additive, and in 1990, it was listed in GB12493—90 Classification and Codes of Food Additives. As early as the 1980s, our company began producing this product, being one of the first domestic enterprises to do so. We presided over the formulation of the national standard at that time and once again led the drafting, formulation and revision of the new national standard (GB28302-2012) in 2011.
In food, it serves as a diluent, emulsifying stabilizer, solubilizer, high-efficiency defoamer, and oil base for essential oils. It can also be used as a food nutrient.
Characteristics of GTCC in the Human Body
GTCC provides rapid energy supply, features fast metabolism, does not accumulate in the body, and will not cause obesity. It is widely used in pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, edible oils, ice cream, flavors and fragrances, chewing gum, chocolate, candies, dairy products, margarine, health products, weight loss products, and cosmetics.
Functions and Applications of GTCC
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Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) oxidize 8-10 times faster than long-chain fatty acids, with different oxidation pathways. Long-chain fatty acids undergo β-oxidation step by step, producing two-carbon fragments each time. In contrast, MCFAs undergo oxidation at multiple carbon atoms simultaneously, quickly converting into CO₂. The metabolic rate of MCT is almost as rapid as that of glucose and alcohol, providing energy extremely fast. It is easily metabolized into ketone bodies, rapidly supplying energy to the brain and body to maintain vitality and alertness. After absorption by the human body, medium-chain fatty acids are transported to the liver via the portal vein and immediately broken down to generate energy. The maximum proportion is reached approximately 3 hours after intake, and they are almost completely decomposed within 10 hours.
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It is easily hydrolyzed in the intestinal tract. Even in the absence of pancreatic lipase (pancreatic juice) and bile, it can be hydrolyzed into fatty acids and glycerol by lipases present in the intestinal mucosa. Some studies even indicate that MCT can be directly absorbed into intestinal mucosal cells in ester form without prior hydrolysis.
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Long-chain fatty acids need to form micelles in the presence of bile salts before being absorbed by intestinal mucosal cells. MCFAs, however, can dissolve in intestinal fluids and cell membranes and be absorbed without forming micelles, with an absorption rate four times faster than that of long-chain fatty acids.
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Long-chain fatty acids absorbed into intestinal mucosal cells need to be re-esterified into triglycerides under the action of complex enzyme systems. In contrast, MCFAs do not require re-esterification and are transported in the form of free fatty acids.
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During the process of moving out of cells, ordinary oils are emulsified into chylomicrons, which enter the lymphatic vessels, thoracic duct, and finally the venous system. MCFAs are transported as free acids, do not form chylomicrons, and directly enter the portal bloodstream, bypassing the lymphatic system and thoracic duct, resulting in a significantly accelerated transport rate.
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In the liver and body, part of ordinary oils accumulates, while the other part is oxidized for energy supply. Due to the lack of need for esterification enzymes, most MCFAs are oxidized for energy, thus hardly accumulating in the body, not causing weight gain, and being beneficial for weight loss.
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In the human body, it possesses metabolic characteristics such as not consuming bile salts and enzymes, high oxidation and absorption rates, no fat deposition caused by chylomicron formation, and low calorie content, serving as a high-density energy source for the human body.
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It is also an excellent solubilizer for cholesterol. For patients with malabsorption syndrome, GTCC is an ideal therapeutic dietary oil. It has good curative effects in treating chyluria, steatorrhea, hyperlipidemia, cerebrovascular diseases, cecal syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and lowering cholesterol. It can be used as a nutritional edible oil for post-surgical patients, premature infants, weight loss foods, and children's foods.
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GTCC is a non-carcinogenic fat. In the treatment of liver cancer, it has a strong killing effect on liver cancer cells without affecting normal liver cells. This oncology effect is related to its structural lipids enhancing immune function. Due to its fast metabolism and no accumulation, it is suitable for use as an intravenous oil injection, with unique advantages for critically ill patients.
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Given that MCT has an oily texture but lower calorie content than ordinary edible oils, with a viscosity only half that of ordinary oils and a higher specific gravity, its emulsified stability is far superior to that of ordinary oils. Therefore, it is used in the production of low-calorie nutritional foods such as salad dressings, baked goods, and cold dishes. Adding MCT to edible oils can improve their nutritional value and confer health benefits. It has obvious effects in preventing cancer, lowering blood lipids and cholesterol, treating chyluria and metabolic disorders, promoting digestion and absorption, and aiding weight loss. As a high-grade health-care edible oil launched on the market, it is expected to achieve excellent social and economic benefits.
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GTCC is rapidly absorbed and digested in the human body. According to literature reports, it does not require enzymes for decomposition and absorption; the human body can directly absorb and digest it, which is excreted as quickly as glucose, thus not being stored in the body and having a weight loss effect. Mixing it with edible oil at a ratio of 3:7 can prepare nutritionally balanced oil that is easily absorbed by the human body. In medicine, it can be used to treat disorders caused by fat metabolism, such as chyluria. When a person suffers from chyluria, they can no longer consume foods containing oil and fat. Instead, they can consume MCT, and their symptoms can disappear within a week, with complete cure after half a year of consumption. Reports indicate a cure rate of over 95%.
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Safety of GTCC
GTCC is originally a characteristic oil extracted from edible coconut oil. No harmful substances are added during the refining process, so there is no toxicity issue. Humans have been consuming coconut oil for hundreds of years without any abnormal reactions or adverse symptoms. Commercial MCT products have been available in Europe and the United States for nearly half a century, with significant clinical effects and no adverse reactions in patients. As early as the 1950s, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted research on the safety of MCT, and the results were satisfactory. MCT was classified as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe), meaning it is a safe drug and food. Its safety and nutritional value are widely recognized. As an essence extracted from coconut oil/palm kernel oil, it is a natural, safe, and functional food additive and nutritional edible oil. The dosage can be added as needed without restrictions.
Toxicological Data
- Acute Toxicity: LD50: 4090mg/kg (oral administration in rats); 91mg/kg (subcutaneous administration in rats). LC50: No carcinogenicity reported.
- Irritation: Rabbit eye test: Basically non-irritating.
- Carcinogenicity: None.
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Other Applications of GTCC
Application in Flavors and Fragrances
Due to its colorless, odorless, and low-viscosity properties, GTCC does not interfere with the aroma of flavors. It can be used as a base material, solubilizer, diluent, and stabilizer in flavors, and is widely applied in emulsified flavors.
GTCC was included in the scope of flavor applications in 1998.
Application in Candies
In candy coating, low-viscosity oils are required to achieve an ideal luster and non-sticky glassy appearance, and GTCC is an ideal raw material. When used in combination with beeswax, it can achieve a better coating appearance. As a film-forming agent in soft candies, it has the advantages of high transparency, no peculiar smell, and bright candy color. Its metabolic and nutritional functions make it an excellent raw material in children's candies.
Application in Chocolate
Adding GTCC to chocolate and using it in combination with lecithin improves the fluidity of chocolate during processing, enhances its instant solubility, luster, and smooth, delicate taste. It reduces blooming and extends the shelf life.
Application in Chewing Gum
Adding GTCC to chewing gum serves as a softener and emulsifier, facilitating production operations, improving product flexibility, providing a pure and fresh taste, a smooth and delicate texture, no stickiness to teeth, non-sticky bubbles, and a long shelf life. Most domestic chewing gum enterprises use this product.
Application in Oils and Fats
Given that GTCC has an "oily" texture but lower calories than ordinary edible oils, it is used in the production of low-calorie nutritional foods such as salad dressings, baked goods, and cold dishes. Adding GTCC to edible oils can improve their nutritional value, regulate lipid structure, and is beneficial for human nutrition, health care, weight loss, and promoting digestion and absorption. Adding it to margarine can improve the miscibility and stability of oils and fats, solving the problems of oil stratification and poor crystallization. It makes the cream have a delicate taste, good spreadability, and excellent plasticity, improving product quality and processing performance.
Application in Dairy Products
Using GTCC together with lecithin as an emulsifier in dairy products does not affect the flavor of milk, improves its instant solubility, reduces fat separation, regulates the fat composition of dairy products, and obtains products with more reasonable nutrition and health benefits.
Application in Cold Drink Products
Ice cream products containing GTCC are delicious, fresh, non-greasy, and have a long shelf life. Applying GTCC to other cold drink products results in good emulsification, a delicate appearance, a pleasant taste, and ease of production. It is an ideal emulsifier, stabilizer, and nutritional modifier, and can be used to produce functional cold drink products. GTCC has been widely used in cold drink products abroad, which have nutritional and health-care effects and promote digestion and absorption.
Application in Food Emulsifiers
In emulsified dairy products, cold drink products, soybean milk, and turbid solid and liquid beverages, GTCC can be used as a clouding agent, emulsifier, stabilizer, wetting agent, and nutritional modifier. When compounded with other emulsifiers, it exhibits good miscibility and stability, as well as excellent oxidation resistance, without a greasy feeling. It can be used as an oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) emulsifier in various foods.
Application in Health Products
Due to its unique nutritional and health-care functions, GTCC is both a functional food additive and a health product, and has been well applied in the health product industry. Other health-care ingredients can be added to GTCC to produce aqueous solutions, emulsions, powders, capsules, and tablets for use as health products.
Other Applications in Food
GTCC can also be used as a diluent, brightener, polishing agent, clouding agent, and antioxidant in food. For example, it works well in diluting pigments, vitamins, flavors and fragrances, and pharmaceuticals; polishing the coating of candies and pastries; releasing bread from molds; increasing turbidity in beverages; and preserving meat products.
Application in Cosmetics
In cosmetics, GTCC is widely used in sunscreen oils, creams and lotions; after-sun creams and lotions; hair care oils, creams and serums; bath oils; skin astringents; cleansing creams, lotions and milks; baby oils, creams and lotions; moisturizing and skin care products; cosmetic creams and lipsticks; drug dilution, and other products. It is quickly absorbed by the skin, enhances skin luster, and acts as a breathable emollient. It is also an excellent color spreader, hair care agent, and diluent. In cosmetics, it has oxidation resistance, so antioxidants and other stabilizing additives may not be needed in products containing GTCC.
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