MCT C8 vs C10: what is the difference?

Short answer: C8 (caprylic acid) and C10 (capric acid) are both medium-chain fatty acids in MCT oil. The difference is the length of the chain: C8 has 8 carbon atoms, C10 has 10. Pure C8 oil is liquid, while pure C10 oil is solid at room temperature. A lot of MCT oil is a mix of C8 and C10. Our MCT C8 oil consists of C8.

Last updated: 5 November 2026 · Written by Florian Fermin

A bottle of MCT oil often says C8, C10 or C8/C10. What does that mean, and does it matter? Here we set out the facts, without promises. We sell MCT C8 oil ourselves. Further down, we show what the lab analysis says is in our bottle.

What is the difference between MCT C8 and C10?

C8 and C10 differ mainly in chain length and in how they behave at room temperature. In MCT oil, the fatty acids are bound to glycerol as a triglyceride. Pure C8 oil is then called tricaprylin, pure C10 oil tricaprin.

Sources for the table: Vandenberghe et al., 2017 and St-Pierre et al., 2019. The last row comes from the fatty acid analysis of our raw material.

What is caprylic acid (C8)?

Caprylic acid, also called octanoic acid, is a saturated fatty acid with 8 carbon atoms. Coconut oil contains little of it: in the coconut oil from a Canadian study it was about 3% (Vandenberghe et al., 2017). That is why the caprylic acid for a C8 oil is extracted from coconut oil or palm kernel oil.

In that study, 9 healthy adults (34 years old on average) were given two doses of 20 ml of different oils on separate test days: coconut oil, pure C8, pure C10, a regular MCT oil (55% C8 and 35% C10) and blends. Pure C8 gave the biggest rise in blood ketones over 8 hours. Coconut oil reached about a quarter of the C8 peak (Vandenberghe et al., 2017).

What does that tell us, and what not? It is a small group and one test day per oil. It says nothing about whether you notice anything with daily use. Ketones are a measurement in the blood, not proof of an effect on how you feel.

What is capric acid (C10)?

Capric acid, also called decanoic acid, is a saturated fatty acid with 10 carbon atoms. Pure C10 oil is solid at room temperature. In both studies, the researchers first had to melt it in a 60 °C water bath before they could mix it (Vandenberghe et al., 2017; St-Pierre et al., 2019).

In the follow-up study, again with 9 healthy adults, C8 gave about three times as many ketones as C10, and about six times as many as C12 (lauric acid) (St-Pierre et al., 2019). The researchers themselves report that one of them advises companies that make MCT and ketone products and received test materials from such companies. Good to know when you read the results.

Which is better: C8 or C8/C10?

There is no clear winner. If you look at ketones, pure C8 gave the biggest rise in two small studies. In one study, that was about a fifth to a quarter more than a C8/C10 blend, in the other the difference with the blend was not significant. Too little is known about other differences in your body to promise anything.

• Ketones: C8 the most, C8/C10 slightly less or similar, pure C10 clearly less (Vandenberghe et al., 2017; St-Pierre et al., 2019).
• Form: C8 and C8/C10 are liquid, pure C10 is solid at room temperature.
• Gut: whether C8 or C10 is easier on your stomach has not been properly compared in humans. For both, build up slowly. You can read more about the downsides of MCT oil.

We chose pure C8, partly because the oil stays liquid. That is a choice, not a promise about what it does for you.

Is coconut oil the same as MCT oil?

No. Coconut oil contains only a little C8 and C10. The coconut oil from the Canadian study contained 3% C8 and 5% C10, and most of it was lauric acid (C12, 45%) and fatty acids with even longer chains (Vandenberghe et al., 2017). MCT oil is a purified fraction of coconut oil or palm kernel oil.

Want to know how to use coconut oil or MCT oil in your coffee? Read coconut oil in coffee: how to make it.

What is in GOYU MCT C8 oil?

According to the ingredients list, our Organic MCT C8 Oil consists of 100% organic MCT oil C8 from coconut oil. In the fatty acid analysis by an external laboratory of our raw material batch from January 2025, 99.2% was caprylic acid (C8) and 0.7% capric acid (C10). Our supplier's specification requires at least 95% C8.

• Origin: organic coconuts, palm oil free. According to the certificate of analysis, the oil is made by fractional distillation.
• Nutritional value per 100 g: 900 kcal, 100 g fat, of which 100 g saturated.
• Directions for use: 1 to 3 tablespoons a day (1 tablespoon is 12 ml), in hot or cold preparations. Build up slowly if you are using it for the first time.
• Form: clear, neutral in taste and liquid, even in the fridge.

Questions about the analysis? Email us at support@getgoyu.com.

What should you look for when choosing MCT C8 oil?

Look mainly at what exactly is in the bottle. A good MCT oil states which fatty acids it contains and in what ratio.

1. C8, C10 or a blend: if it only says "MCT", it is often a blend of C8 and C10. If you want pure C8, check whether the percentage of C8 is stated.
2. Source: coconut or palm kernel oil. You will find this in the ingredients list.
3. Organic: then the label should carry the EU organic logo with a control body code.
4. Dosage: check how many ml a tablespoon or serving is, so you know how much fat and how many calories you take.
5. Analysis: feel free to ask for the fatty acid profile if it is not on the packaging.

Summary in 3 points

• C8 (caprylic acid) has 8 carbon atoms, C10 (capric acid) has 10. Pure C8 oil is liquid, pure C10 oil is solid at room temperature.
• In two small test day studies in healthy adults, pure C8 gave the biggest rise in ketones, C10 clearly less. What that means for daily use has not been studied.
• Our MCT C8 oil consists of C8: 99.2% C8 and 0.7% C10 in the 2025 lab analysis of the raw material.

Frequently asked questions

Is C8 the same as caprylic acid?

Yes. C8 is the short name for caprylic acid, also called octanoic acid. The number stands for the number of carbon atoms in the fatty acid chain. In MCT oil, it is bound to glycerol as tricaprylin.

What does C8/C10 mean on MCT oil?

That the oil is a blend of caprylic acid (C8) and capric acid (C10). A common ratio is about 55 to 60% C8 and 35 to 40% C10, like the regular MCT oil in the studies above. A good label lists the percentages.

Is MCT C8 oil the same as coconut oil?

No. Coconut oil consists mainly of lauric acid (C12) and longer fatty acids and contains only a few percent C8. MCT C8 oil is the C8 fraction extracted from coconut oil. That is why it is liquid and neutral in taste.

How much MCT C8 oil per day?

Our directions for use are 1 to 3 tablespoons a day, where 1 tablespoon is 12 ml. Start with less and build up slowly, because a lot of MCT oil at once can cause gut complaints.

Does MCT C8 oil go solid in the fridge?

No, our MCT C8 oil stays liquid, even in the fridge. That is a difference from coconut oil, which turns solid below about 24 °C.

Sources

1. Vandenberghe C, St-Pierre V, Pierotti T, Fortier M, Castellano CA, Cunnane SC. Crossover study in 9 healthy adults on ketones after coconut oil, C8, C10 and MCT oil (8-hour test day). Curr Dev Nutr. 2017;1(4):e000257. doi:10.3945/cdn.116.000257. PubMed 29955698
2. St-Pierre V, Vandenberghe C, Lowry CM, et al. Test day study in 9 healthy adults on blood ketones and fatty acids after C8, C10, C12 and MCT oil. Front Nutr. 2019;6:46. doi:10.3389/fnut.2019.00046. PubMed 31058159
3. Traul KA, Driedger A, Ingle DL, Nakhasi D. Toxicology review of medium chain triglycerides, including their composition (mainly C8 and C10). Food Chem Toxicol. 2000;38(1):79-98. doi:10.1016/s0278-6915(99)00106-4. PubMed 10685018
4. Fatty acid analysis of the raw material Coconut MCT C8 Oil Organic (ISO 12966), external laboratory, report of 7 February 2025, and the supplier's certificate of analysis, raw material batch January 2025.
5. GOYU, product page Organic MCT C8 Oil (ingredients, nutritional values and directions for use), consulted 5 November 2026.

You can find our MCT oil and accessories on the buy MCT oil page.

This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If in doubt, pregnant or taking medication, talk to your GP or pharmacist.