Category: lipid
Aliases: Caproic acid, Hexanoic acid, Tricaproin, C6:0
Six-carbon fatty acid — rapidly absorbed via the portal vein without chylomicron formation, then β-oxidised in the liver. Shorter chain length than C8 means even faster hepatic oxidation but lower ketogenic yield per gram (requires more acetyl-CoA cycles to reach the same BHB output, and some carbon is diverted to the TCA cycle). Distinctive sharp, goaty odour at even trace concentrations — practical reason purified C6 products are uncommon and commercial MCT oils target C8/C10.