These products are widely used across the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetics industries.
São Paulo, February 2024 – Concepta Ingredients, a Sabará Group business unit specializing in natural solutions for industry, expects a significant increase in sales of coconut and palm medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in 2024, based on its analysis of market trends. With a focus on Brazil and Latin America, the company aims to sell between 200 and 250 metric tons of these products this year. They are widely used in a range of applications across the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetics industries.
MCTs are a type of healthy fat composed of the saturated fatty acids caprylic acid (C8) and capric acid (C10:0). They occur naturally in concentrations of 6–12% in oils and fats such as coconut oil, palm kernel oil, milk fat, babaçu oil, and licuri oil. According to the company’s Commercial Director, André Sabará, Concepta Ingredients’ products stand out for their quality, competitive pricing, range of packaging options available for immediate delivery, and contribution to a sustainable supply chain.
“Palm MCTs, for example, can be RSPO-certified, assuring consumers that sustainability requirements have been met in their production,” he explains. “Our goal of supplying 250 metric tons to Brazil and Latin America would undoubtedly only be possible because of the quality and versatility of our products, combined with the best value for money on the market,” he adds.
Benefits
Although classified as saturated fatty acids, MCTs have nutritional, physiological, and physicochemical properties that differ from those of long-chain saturated fatty acids. Because they are absorbed more rapidly and are preferentially oxidized, they provide an immediate source of energy. Their consumption increases satiety and reduces food intake compared with other commonly consumed triacylglycerols. The use of MCTs in food has been recognized as safe by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) since 1994.
MCTs are also used in infant formulas and in the management of various clinical conditions, such as malabsorption, atherosclerosis, obesity, and in parenteral nutrition. They are also a rapid source of energy for athletes and older adults with limited metabolic capacity. In addition, research has indicated benefits in relation to anxiety and Alzheimer’s disease.
MCTs also offer a range of skin benefits, making them valuable ingredients in cosmetic products. Due to their emollient properties, saturated-chain structure, and resulting low viscosity, MCTs provide good spreadability and skin compatibility, while also serving as carriers and solvents. “All of this demonstrates how MCTs have important properties that make them ideal for a wide range of applications and industries, including cosmetics,” André Sabará concludes.
Applications
- MCTs serve as a functional ingredient to improve food texture. Their humectant and release-agent properties help distribute air and fats, facilitating the manufacturing process and improving product quality by extending shelf life. They can be used in bakery products, dairy products, confectionery, and nutraceuticals.
- Available in liquid form, MCTs are widely used for therapeutic purposes and are considered a potential agent in the treatment of obesity.
- They can be used in salad dressings, yogurts, shakes, and smoothies; blended with other vegetable oils; or incorporated into cookies, jams, and puff pastry.
- They are effective solvents for colorants and flavorings. MCTs can be interesterified with other long-chain vegetable oils to produce structured lipids for use in plastic fats.
- The versatility of MCTs allows them to be used in a wide range of cosmetic products, including emulsions (lotions, creams, and butters), anhydrous systems (serums, sticks, and oils), and even cleansing systems.
About Concepta Ingredients
Concepta Ingredients is part of Sabará Group and specializes in natural and technology-driven solutions developed in accordance with the Bio Abundance Program. Drawing on innovation and research, the company offers organic and conventional ingredients through a business model that empowers families and contributes to the indirect conservation of areas across different Brazilian biomes. Its extensive portfolio includes technologically advanced ingredients from international partners and ingredients sourced from biodiversity, meeting the most specific needs of the industries it serves.
About Sabará Group
With over 67 years of history, Sabará Group is a truly Brazilian company recognized for its ability to innovate and adapt. For three generations, the Group has overcome challenges and established itself in the markets where it operates. Its commitment to the well-being of people around the world goes beyond offering innovative products and services. The Group’s activities take future generations into account, focusing on solutions that ensure sustainability. Through its various business segments, Sabará Group operates throughout Brazil and maintains a presence in countries across South America, North America, and Europe. It specializes in developing high-performance technologies, solutions, and raw materials for water treatment in the sanitation and industrial sectors, animal nutrition and health, and the food and beverage industries. Its products are developed using 100% Brazilian expertise and technology, helping establish Brazil as a benchmark in product research aimed at building a sustainable world.
