Triglycerides
The milk fats of humans and guinea pigs are largely made up of long-chain fatty acids. The milk fats of cows, sheep, and goats are rich in short-chain fatty acids. The milk fats of horses contain large amounts of medium-chain fatty acids. Like all triglycerides, MCTs are composed of a glycerol backbone and three fatty acids. In the case of MCTs, 2 or 3 of the fatty acid chains attached to glycerol are medium-chain in length. The application of medium-chain fatty acids: edible oil with a suppressing effect on body fat accumulation. Takeuchi H(1), Sekine S, Kojima K, Aoyama T. Author information: (1)Central Research Laboratory, The Nisshin OilliO Group, Ltd., 1 Shinmei-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 239-0832, Japan. The bulk of fatty acids found in our diets consists of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA), which are molecules containing 12 or more carbon atoms. In contrast, medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) are composed of 8-10 carbon atoms, and are found in palm kernel oil, among other types of foods. Medium chain fatty acids from coconut oil do not get packaged into lipoproteins, and do not get transported to a variety of tissues and are not stored as body fat, they go directly to the liver and are metabolized immediately for energy. So they do not cause weight gain. Not only do you store less body fat, studies have shown that medium chain fatty acids also increase the oxidation of long chain fatty acids that are already in your body, tucked away in your love handles! So not only does it prevent weight gain, it aids in weight loss. The bottom line is that the medium chain fatty acids from coconut oil produce almost exclusively energy, whereas, long chain fatty acids found in other dietary fats produce body fat (and some energy). Coconut Oil Boosts Energy. Not only do you store less body fat, studies have shown that medium chain fatty acids also increase the oxidation of long chain fatty acids that are already in your body, tucked away in your love handles! So not only does it prevent weight gain, it aids in weight loss. 1 Three fatty acids joined together make a triglyceride, so there are short-chain triglycerides (SCT), medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), or long-chain triglycerides (LCT). 2  Coconut oil is unique because it is composed predominately of MCT. 3  The MCT gives unique character and healing properties. 1 You have saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. 2  The second method of classification is based on molecular size or length of the carbon chain in the fatty acid. 3  There are short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), medium-chain fatty acids(MCFA), and long-chain fatty acids (LCFA). In this system there are short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), and long-chain fatty acids (LCFA). Coconut oil, for example, is composed predominately of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), also known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). Not only do you store less body fat, studies have shown that medium chain fatty acids also increase the oxidation of long chain fatty acids that are already in your body, tucked away in your love handles! So not only does it prevent weight gain, it aids in weight loss. The fatty acids found in MCTs are called medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). Like all triglycerides, MCTs are composed of a glycerol backbone and three fatty acids. In the case of MCTs, 2 or 3 of the fatty acid chains attached to glycerol are medium-chain in length. Rich sources for commercial extraction of beneficial MCTs include palm kernel oil and coconut oil 1 Another term you will often see in reference to fatty acids is triglyceride. 2  Three fatty acids joined together make a triglyceride, so there are short-chain triglycerides (SCT), medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), or long-chain triglycerides (LCT). 3  Coconut oil is unique because it is composed predominately of MCT. 1 You have saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. 2  The second method of classification is based on molecular size or length of the carbon chain in the fatty acid. 3  There are short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), medium-chain fatty acids(MCFA), and long-chain fatty acids (LCFA). But not all fats are alike. Some clog our arteries and some contribute to inflammation in the body. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), also known as medium-chain fatty acids, have a surprising list of benefits that may even outshine some benefits provided by the fatty acids in olive oil. MCTs are fatty acids that are naturally found in coconut and palm oil, and ghee (clarified butter). They are also available as a dietary supplement packaged in a bottle or in capsules. Medium-chain triglycerides were first used in the mid-1900s in conjunction with a prescribed diet to reduce seizures. Coconut Oil Safety. The medium-chain fats in coconut oil are considered so nutritious that they are used in baby formulas, and in hospitals to feed the critically ill, those on tube feeding, and those with digestive problems. Coconut oil has even been used successfully by doctors in treating aluminum poisoning. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-chain_triglycerides http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18296368 http://www.eatingdisorderpro.com/2013/09/19/fats-explained-short-medium-and-long-chain-fats/ http://www.eatingdisorderpro.com/2013/09/19/fats-explained-short-medium-and-long-chain-fats/ http://www.primaryinfo.com/technology/mct-coconut-oil.htm http://www.eatingdisorderpro.com/2013/09/19/fats-explained-short-medium-and-long-chain-fats/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-chain_triglycerides http://www.primaryinfo.com/technology/mct-coconut-oil.htm http://www.smart-publications.com/articles/medium-chain-triglycerides-mcts-the-fat-that-makes-you-lose-fat/ http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/22/coconut-oil-and-saturated-fats-can-make-you-healthy.aspx#!
what are medium chain plant fats