A new study reveals that tricaprin, a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) supplement found in coconut oil, could provide a life-changing breakthrough for people suffering from triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy (TDCV) — a rare and recently discovered heart condition. The study found that participants taking tricaprin experienced significantly improved heart failure outcomes and long-term survival rates compared to those who did not.
What Is Triglyceride Deposit Cardiomyovasculopathy (TDCV)?
TDCV is a cardiovascular disorder characterized by the heart’s inability to properly break down triglycerides for energy, leading to lipid buildup in heart muscle and vascular cells. Over time, this buildup contributes to severe heart failure and coronary artery disease. Some cases of TDCV are genetic, while others have unknown causes.
Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, a board-certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, explained that treatment options for TDCV have been lacking. But researchers believe that tricaprin — a class of medium-chain triglycerides found in coconut oil and dairy products — could change that.
The Study: Tricaprin and Heart Failure Recovery
The recent study compared 22 participants with confirmed TDCV who received tricaprin to 190 participants who did not. All participants were diagnosed with TDCV at or after the age of 20 and experienced cardiac symptoms that were resistant to standard treatments. Participants taking tricaprin showed marked improvements in fat metabolism, heart failure symptoms, and left ventricle function, including better ejection fraction and reverse remodeling.
The most remarkable finding: participants receiving tricaprin had 100% three-year and five-year survival rates, compared to survival rates of 78.6% and 68.1%, respectively, in the control group.
Broader Implications for Heart Failure Treatment
Although TDCV is rare, researchers believe the benefits of tricaprin could extend beyond this specific condition. Since triglycerides are major components of lipid droplets often seen in heart failure patients, tricaprin’s ability to enhance fat breakdown could make it a viable treatment for people with elevated triglyceride levels, even if they don’t have TDCV.
Cardiologist Randy Gould, DO, FACC, with Manhattan Cardiology, noted that the regression of triglyceride buildup in the heart’s blood vessels seen in this study suggests tricaprin could become an additional treatment option for cardiovascular health.
Study Limitations and Future Research
While the results are promising, the study did have limitations, including its focus on the Japanese population, small sample size, and lack of blinding. Researchers acknowledge the need for larger, more diverse trials to confirm these findings and explore how newly developed heart failure medications might interact with tricaprin.
Conclusion
The discovery that a natural supplement derived from coconut oil could offer such profound heart health benefits brings hope to patients with TDCV and potentially many others with heart failure. As research progresses, tricaprin may become a widely recommended supplement for improving cardiovascular outcomes and enhancing overall heart function.