Study Shows How Bulletproof Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil Powers the Brain
- Curious about MCT oil for brain health? A study conducted at University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada shows the benefit of Bulletproof Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil in a healthy brain.
- Ketones are an excellent source of brain energy: They fuel your mind and body to help you stay sharp and feel focused.
- Find out how and why Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil gives you the biggest ketone boost in order to access sustained energy that powers your day.
When you think about energy, what do you see? Maybe it’s a cup of coffee, an energy drink or a pair of running shoes. But if your goal is sustained energy, it all starts in the brain. New evidence from University of Sherbrooke shows that Bulletproof Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil can double the available ketone energy in a healthy brain.
However, when it comes to MCT oil for brain health, not all MCTs are the same. Keep reading to see the science-backed results of this enlightening study, and find out why C8 MCT oil is second to none.
The real results from Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil
Let’s talk about your brain, ketones and MCT oil. According to Bulletproof Scientific Affairs Manager, Emily Gonzalez, ND, your brain needs more energy than you’d think. “It takes up only 2% of the weight of the body, but approximately 20% of its total energy expenditure,” Gonzalez says.
Your brain gets most of its energy from glucose, a simple sugar from carbohydrates.[1] The problem is that trying to add more glucose raises your blood sugar, and essentially, what comes up must come down. “This could feel like fatigue, irritability and an inability to concentrate,” Gonzalez says. It’s like a campfire that burns down to its embers—without a steady supply of energy, your brain can’t function optimally.
Enter: ketone bodies.
Is MCT oil good for your brain?
Ketones supplement your brain and body with sustained energy.[2] They’re an alternate form of energy naturally produced by your liver, and “are a readily available fuel source that provide sustained energy,” Gonzalez says.
Did you know you can raise your ketone levels in several ways? You can engage in a fast, try out the keto diet or increase them during endurance exercise. Additionally, you can raise your ketones with MCT oil supplementation.
MCT oil is a dietary supplement made from medium-chain fatty acids, aka medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). This quality fat is associated with a range of health benefits, like satisfied hunger and cognitive function.† That’s because more ketone energy translates into more available fuel for your brain cells. That’s more energy for everything from cognition to fueling your mitochondria.†
But what does MCT oil for brain function to bolster your energy actually look like? Researchers at University of Sherbrooke wanted to visualize exactly what happens to a healthy brain after taking Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil—and the results were illuminating.
A groundbreaking use of PET scans and MCT oil for brain energy
The science-backed findings all started with a sketch on a napkin.
Dr. Stephen Cunnane is a professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at University of Sherbrooke in Quebec. He is also a preeminent researcher in the field of ketones and ketogenic diets and their effects on the brain. Gonzalez met with Dr. Cunnane at a conference in 2019. Dr. Cunnane had recently published a paper on ketone uptake in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients after the intake of Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil.
His study used PET scans, a groundbreaking use of this imaging test, to visualize the difference in the brain before and after Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil was given. “We were so inspired by this study when we met with him that we sketched out a protocol on a napkin over lunch for how to do this study in people with healthy brains,” Gonzalez says.
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What the study found
In this clinical study, researchers recruited three participants in good health between the ages of 20-55. They used PET scans to visualize and measure changes in metabolic processes and absorption in their brains before taking Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil, and after.
At the start of the study, the participants ate a light, non-ketogenic breakfast after eight to nine hours of fasting overnight. They waited four hours to allow their food to be digested and metabolized, as well as insulin to rise and fall. Researchers performed the first PET scan to establish the baseline ketone levels of the subjects. Then, the participants took 1 tablespoon of Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil. After two hours, a second PET scan was done—and that’s when the really impressive results were revealed.
Most of the ketone uptake occurs in the gray matter that makes up the outermost layer of the brain, where the cell bodies are. These are the most metabolically active cells and take up the most ketones—and that’s what you see in the PET scan above. Talk about a bright idea!
PET scan shows real results from C8 MCT oil for brain power
The PET scan from this study is of the healthy brain of a 23-year-old woman. What you’re seeing is approximately double the ketone levels across most brain regions after taking 1 tablespoon of Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil. “Although this exact amount will vary from person to person, this is not an unexpected finding when given this dose of MCT oil,” Gonzalez says.
“We know that the physiology of a healthy human brain includes using ketones for energy,” Gonzalez says. “However, getting a chance to visualize the beneficial impact that Brain Octane C8 has on a healthy brain is pretty spectacular.”
To recap: Ketones are a source of energy that powers your brain for hours, giving you the energy you need to stay sharp. In this study, the consumption of 1 tablespoon (15g) of Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil resulted in the approximate doubling of the ketone levels in this healthy adult.
Not all MCT oils are the same
MCTs are found in a lot of different fats, like coconut oil, palm kernel oil and even goat milk. There are a few types of MCTs with varying lengths of fatty acids.
If you look at MCT oils on store shelves, you’ll commonly see C8 (caprylic acid), C10 (capric acid) and C12 (lauric acid) advertised—but your body uses them differently. For example, plain coconut oil is mostly C12, and it doesn’t produce the same ketogenic effects as the gold standard of MCTs: C8.
If you want a winning combination of MCT oil, brain function and ketone energy, go with C8, which gives you four times more ketone energy than coconut oil.[3] Unlike other MCTs, C8 is more efficiently converted into ketones by the liver before the ketones cross the blood-brain barrier.
You might associate ketones with ketosis, or eating a low-carb, high-fat diet. The good news is when you consume C8 MCT oil, you get more of the beneficial effect of MCTs, including both sustained energy and cognitive function—without changing what you eat. “The beauty of Brain Octane is that as a C8 MCT oil, it is converted to ketones by your liver for use as energy,” Gonzalez says. “These ketones are then taken up by the brain for energy use.”
Keep in mind that other companies may cut their MCT oil with less-effective MCTs like C12, mix it with coconut oil or even add artificial flavors. (Read your labels: If you want the greatest ketogenic benefits, you want C8!)
How can Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil fit into my life?
Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil is pure C8 MCT oil, and nothing else. This matters because C8 rapidly converts into ketone energy, and you want a pure product for the best results—and that’s exactly what you get with Bulletproof.
Here are just a few ways to use Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil to power your life and fuel your wellness:
- Transform your morning coffee and make Bulletproof Coffee, an energizing and satisfying blend of Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil, grass-fed butter (or ghee) and clean coffee beans.
- Add it to smoothies to increase your quality fat intake, like this Berry Matcha Smoothie.
- Make salad dressings with MCT oil, like this refreshing Avocado-Cucumber salad dressing.
- Use Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil as a finishing oil on savory dishes like steak and roasted vegetables, since it’s flavorless and accentuates the fat-soluble flavors of foods.
The bottom line: Is MCT oil good for your brain? If you’re looking for sustained energy that lasts for hours, these science-backed results say absolutely! Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil has been shown to almost double the ketone energy in a healthy brain. More energy means added fuel to power your cells, stay sharp and feel more dialed in.† If you want the best return on your energy investment, go with C8 MCT oil for brain function. For a pure, reliable source of sustained energy, Bulletproof Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil is fuel to crave less and do more, so you can #BETHEPROOF!
Want to learn more about MCT oil? Get the details in the Ultimate Guide to MCT Oil and MCT Supplements.
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