Cachexia is a multifactorial condition characterized by muscle mass loss and induces metabolic dysfunction of the skeletal muscles. The preventive effects of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) supplementation on the oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle under cachectic condition were investigated in the present study. ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups; control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS plus long-chain triglycerides (LCT) and LPS plus MCT supplementation. LCT and MCT oil were administered to the LPS + LCT and LPS + MCT groups orally (5.0 g/kg body weight/day) by a catheter for one week. Cachexia was induced in the LPS, LPS + LCT, and LPS + MCT groups via LPS injection (7.5 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) after the supplementation. LPS induced a reduction of ketone bodies concentration in blood plasma. LPS also induced a decrease in succinate dehydrogenase activity and PGC-1α expression level in tibialis anterior muscles. Meanwhile, MCT supplementation suppressed a decrease in ketone bodies concentration and succinate dehydrogenase activity. In addition, MCT supplementation increased the level of citrate synthase activity in the muscles. These results suggested the preventive effect of MCT supplementation on oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle and the involvements of ketone bodies regulation under cachectic condition.

恶病质是一种以肌肉质量损失为特征的多因素疾病，并诱发骨骼肌的代谢功能障碍。本研究研究了补充中链甘油三酸酯（MCT）对恶病质条件下骨骼肌氧化能力的预防作用。ICR小鼠随机分为四组。对照，脂多糖（LPS），LPS加长链甘油三酸酯（LCT）和LPS加MCT补充。通过导管将LCT和MCT油经LPS + LCT和LPS + MCT组口服（5.0 g / kg体重/天）给药一周。通过LPS注射（7.5 mg / kg体重，腹膜内注射）在LPS，LPS + LCT和LPS + MCT组中诱发恶病质）。LPS导致血浆中酮体浓度降低。LPS还导致胫骨前肌的琥珀酸脱氢酶活性和PGC-1α表达水平降低。同时，补充MCT可抑制酮体浓度和琥珀酸脱氢酶活性的降低。此外，补充MCT可增加肌肉中柠檬酸合酶活性的水平。这些结果表明补充MCT对骨骼肌氧化能力的预防作用以及恶病质条件下酮体调节的参与。