[ Medium-chain fatty acid, MCFA ]
Fatty acids with aliphatic tails of 6–12 carbon atoms.
MCFAs do not require bile salts for digestion, passing directly from the from the gastrointestinal track to the portal system. This makes them candidates for supplementation in cases of fatty-acid malabsorption and other metabolism disorders.
The predominant MCFAs are caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid and lauric acid. Dietary sources include coconut oil and palm kernel oil.