{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,12]],"date-time":"2026-03-12T10:01:17Z","timestamp":1773309677641,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,11]],"date-time":"2026-03-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773187200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Nutr."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In Japan, many individuals experience symptoms of constipation. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), composed solely of medium-chain fatty acids, have been suggested to improve bowel movements in athletes. However, most prior studies have assumed high-dose intake for ergogenic purposes, and evidence on the effects of low-dose interventions in generally healthy Japanese adults with a tendency toward constipation remains limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of consuming a small amount of MCTs on bowel movements, subjective abdominal condition, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Japanese adults prone to constipation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This randomized, double-blind, long-chain triglyceride (LCT)-controlled, crossover trial with a 2-week washout enrolled 88 healthy Japanese adults aged 20\u201364\u202fyears with three to five bowel movements per week. Participants ingested 2\u202fg\/day of MCTs and 2\u202fg\/day of LCTs for 2\u202fweeks each. Bowel movement indicators, subjective abdominal condition, and HRQOL were measured.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Using a statistical model for within-participant comparisons, significant diet effects were observed for the number of days with bowel movements, bowel movement frequency, and stool volume. A\n                      <jats:italic>post-hoc<\/jats:italic>\n                      analysis further confirmed that the change from baseline in the number of days with bowel movements at week 2 was significantly greater during the MCT intake period than during the LCT intake period. By contrast, although multiple questionnaire-based endpoints showed significant pre\u2013post changes within intervention periods, the corresponding between-diet differences were not clearly demonstrated.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Daily intake of even a small amount of MCTs, compared with LCTs, may be helpful in improving bowel movements in Japanese adults prone to constipation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Clinical trial registration<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      <jats:ext-link>https:\/\/center6.umin.ac.jp\/cgi-open-bin\/ctr\/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000060455<\/jats:ext-link>\n                      ; identifier UMIN000052997.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2026.1746245","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,11]],"date-time":"2026-03-11T15:49:36Z","timestamp":1773244176000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effects of low-dose medium-chain triglycerides on bowel habit outcomes in Japanese adults prone to constipation: a randomized, double-blind, LCT-controlled crossover trial"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Yuki","family":"Otsubo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Strategic Invention R&D, The Nisshin OilliO Group, Ltd.","place":["Yokohama, Japan"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Haruna","family":"Ishikawa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Strategic Invention R&D, The Nisshin OilliO Group, Ltd.","place":["Yokohama, Japan"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Keiichi","family":"Kojima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Strategic Invention R&D, The Nisshin OilliO Group, Ltd.","place":["Yokohama, Japan"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Shinji","family":"Watanabe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Strategic Invention R&D, The Nisshin OilliO Group, Ltd.","place":["Yokohama, Japan"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Naohisa","family":"Nosaka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Strategic Invention R&D, The Nisshin OilliO Group, Ltd.","place":["Yokohama, Japan"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tsuneo","family":"Matsuike","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Matsuike Clinic","place":["Tachikawa, Japan"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","first-page":"2","volume-title":"Bents\u016b ij\u014d-sh\u014d shinry\u014d gaidorain 2023\u2014Mansei benpi-sh\u014d [guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of functional bowel disorders 2023\u2014Chronic constipation]","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref2","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"822","DOI":"10.1038\/ajg.2010.40","article-title":"Impact of functional gastrointestinal disorders on survival in the community","volume":"105","author":"Chang","year":"2010","journal-title":"Am J Gastroenterol"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114","DOI":"10.1016\/j.atherosclerosis.2018.12.021","article-title":"Constipation and risk of death and cardiovascular 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