Associations of dietary medium-chain fatty acid intakes with obesity-related outcomes in children and adolescents

Abstract This study aimed to assess the associations of dietary medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) intakes with obesity-related outcomes in children and adolescents. Records of children and adolescents in this cross-sectional study were extracted between 2007 and 2023. Weighted univariate and multivariable Logistic models were used to evaluate the relationship of MCFA (total, C8:0, C10:0 and C12:0) with overweight/obesity, obesity and central obesity, with OR and 95 % CI. The associations were further explored by subgroups (age and sex). To adjust for total energy intake, the exposure variables for sensitivity analyses were expressed as energy density. Among the 11 482 included participants, 4713 had overweight/obesity, 2710 had obesity and 2474 had central obesity. High intakes of total MCFA were associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity (OR = 0·71, 95 % CI: 0·60–0·85), obesity (OR = 0·64, 95 % CI: 0·50–0·82) and central obesity (OR = 0·70, 95 % CI: 0·54–0·92). A similar relationship was observed for C8:0, with the inverse association found for obesity-related outcomes (overweight/obesity, OR = 0·69, 95 % CI: 0·57–0·84; obesity, OR = 0·60, 95 % CI: 0·48–0·76; central obesity, OR = 0·68, 95 % CI: 0·52–0·87). Significant protective associations were also consistently present for C10:0 and C12:0. Subgroup analyses showed generally similar inverse associations across age and sex groups, although interactions with age were observed for selected MCFA components and outcomes. In conclusion, higher MCFA intakes were associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity, obesity and central obesity. Future prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm these associations.