Glossary

[ Maltitol ] A sugar alcohol, often used as a sugar substitute, with about 90% of the sweetness of sucrose and 2.1 kcal/gram of energy.

[ Maltose, Malt_Sugar, Maltobiose ] A disaccharide comprised of two α-D- glucose units connected by an alpha bond at carbon 1 of the first unit attached to the oxygen at carbon 4 of the second unit. Compare: Trehalose

[ Mannitol, Mannite, Manna_sugar ] A sugar alcohol with about half the sweetness of sucrose and 1.6 kcal/gram of energy. It is an isomer of sorbitol. Mannitol has several uses medicinally and is on the World_Health_Organization’s List of Essential Medicines.

[ MCT_Oil ] An commercial oil comprising mostly of Medium-chain triglycerides.

[ Medicine, Medical Treatment ] The therapeutic practise of diagnosing and treating injury or disease. A drug or nutrient preparation prescribed for the treatment, or prevention of injury or disease.

[ Medium-chain fatty acid, MCFA ] Fatty acids with aliphatic tails of 6–12 carbon atoms. MCFAs do not require bile salts for digestion, passing directly from the from the gastrointestinal track to the portal system. This makes them candidates for… Read More »Medium-chain fatty acid

[ medium-chain_fatty_acid, MCFA ] A fatty acid with an aliphatic tail of between 6 and 12 carbons. They include caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid and lauric acid. Food sources of MCFA include palm kernel oil, coconut oil and dairy… Read More »Medium-Chain Fatty Acid (MCFA)

[ Medium-chain triglyceride, MCT ] Triglycerides in which 2 or 3 of its fatty acids are medium-chain fatty acids (i.e., ranging in length from 6 to 12 carbon atoms).

[ Metabolism ] The enzyme-catalyzed, chemical processes that occur within the cells of living organisms in order to sustain life.

[ Micronutrient ] An element or substance with nutritional value that is only required in trace amounts. Compare Macronutrient.