Plasma lipid concentrations, macronutrient digestibility and mineral absorption in dogs fed a dry food containing medium-chain triglycerides

In a cross-over trial with feeding periods of 2 weeks, six healthy dogs were fed a dry food with a total fat content of 13.4% and containing either 5% (w/w) corn oil (11% of dietary metabolizable energy) or an isoenergetic amount of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). The two diets were supplied on a restricted basis. There were no food refusals and no diet difference in palatability was observed. The MCT vs. Corn oil did not significantly influence plasma lipid concentrations, but group mean triacylglycerol concentrations were increased by 23% (p = 0.074). The MCT consumption did not affect the apparent digestibilities of crude protein and soluble carbohydrates and had no impact on the absorption of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. The incorporation of MCT into the diet produced a slight increase (by 0.9 percentage units) in crude fat digestibility (p = 0.061). It is concluded that MCT at the present inclusion level may not have disadvantageous effects.