Caprylic acid is a type of beneficial saturated fatty acid that has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
It has been linked to the prevention of urinary tract infections, bladder infections, candida albicans, sexually transmitted diseases, oral infections such as gingivitis and many other conditions.
What does caprylic acid do for you?
As one of the main fatty acids in coconut oil, it has recently become widely known for its antifungal effects, particularly in relation to the proper functioning of the digestive and reproductive organs - including the bladder, bowel and urethra.
One of the most popular potential uses or benefits of caprylic acid, whether consumed through food or taken orally in pill form, is to prevent the overgrowth of yeast that can live and grow in your intestines.
But this is just one of the many possible benefits of caprylic acid.
Ready to learn more?
What is caprylic acid?
So far, it sounds like it could be quite beneficial for your health, but what is caprylic acid?
As a saturated fatty acid, caprylic acid - also known as octanoic acid - contains eight carbon atoms, making it a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA).
What foods contain caprylic acid?
It can be found in healthy foods such as coconut and coconut oil, cow's milk and human breast milk.
Is caprylic acid a probiotic?
It is definitely not a probiotic, but it does help support gut health and the internal probiotic environment that we all have.
While more research is needed to confirm its potential uses, research suggests that this fatty acid may have beneficial applications in fighting inflammation, cancer, age-related cognitive decline including heart disease, Alzheimer's, autism and circulatory problems.
Health benefits of caprylic acid
Contains antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties
A natural immune booster, caprylic acid is commonly used as an ingredient in topical fungicides, household cleaners, perfumes and dyes.
With all of the known uses of coconut oil, it's no surprise that caprylic acid is gaining popularity on its own for healing the body inside and out.
Taken internally, it helps to naturally reduce yeast growth in the gastrointestinal tract, allowing beneficial bacteria to thrive.
At the same time, caprylic acid is completely natural and does not carry the same risks as harsh antibiotics or chemical treatments.
While antibiotics can kill all the bacteria in the gut - good and bad - caprylic acid can actually do the opposite, helping to prevent an imbalance in the presence of different bacteria.
A higher population of 'good bacteria' in the gut increases immune function and has many implications: lower levels of inflammation, lower risk of allergies, better brain function, better hormonal health, lower risk of obesity and more.
Because gut health is inextricably linked to many functions throughout the body, the effects of caprylic acid can help combat headaches, depression, fatigue, diarrhoea, bloating, vaginal yeast infections and gas.
To further enhance its effects, some experts also recommend taking natural immune boosters such as probiotic foods, oregano oil and omega-3 fish oil supplements with caprylic acid to help replenish the skin and gut with healthy bacteria, reduce inflammation and restore a healthy gut.
When it comes to fighting candidiasis naturally, look no further than caprylic acid.
Candidiasis is a condition that occurs when an overgrowth of Candida albicans grows in your intestines.
It is very common, especially in women, and is associated with unpleasant symptoms such as bloating, constipation, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, depression and sugar cravings.
Because caprylic acid acts as a natural yeast killer, it is believed that it can penetrate the cell membranes of Candida yeast cells and kill them, detoxifying the digestive tract and speeding up the healing process.
Taking caprylic acid may make Candida less of a problem.
Researchers have found that this fatty acid, taken orally, quickly reduces the symptoms associated with viral and fungal infections such as chlamydia.
A 2001 report found that caprylic acid was more effective and less expensive than drugs for treating these infections.
The same study suggests that the best treatment for these types of conditions is a combination of concentrated caprylic acid taken orally with omega-3 fish oil supplements.
Together they act as potent antiviral agents and increase normal cell telomeres (NCT).
Helps prevent and treat fungal infections
An overgrowth of Candida albicans can cause other types of internal or external fungal infections that appear on the skin, genitals, toes and elsewhere.
Caprylic acid can help get rid of toenail fungus, oral candidiasis, vaginal infections and groin itching in men.
These are all examples of fungal infections that can be prevented or treated with little or no side effects.
Treats skin infections and acne
Given the popularity of coconut oil's many uses for skin, it is no surprise that the powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial effects of caprylic acid have been proven in several human and animal studies to help improve infections that appear on the skin.
Caprylic acid, along with its derivatives called monocaprylin and sodium caprylate, are able to fight bacteria that live on the skin and cause infections, including Dermatophilus congolensis and acne.
Dermatophilosis is a skin disease that can affect many species of domestic and wild animals, such as horses and cattle, as well as humans.
It results in a bacterial infection that forms painful dry scabs on the skin and can cause itching and embarrassment, similar to eczema and acne.
Coconut oil, the best source of natural caprylic acid, is known to naturally improve acne and reduce skin inflammation.
By applying coconut oil with its natural caprylic acid, acne can become less of a problem for some users.
This is why coconut oil is an excellent natural skin moisturizer in addition to homemade scrubs or lotions, face wash, and shaving balm.
In addition, it has beneficial properties for improving hair health.
Helps treat inflammatory digestive disorders
Caprylic acid triglyceride may be helpful in certain digestive disorders.
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are often given to people with Crohn's disease or short bowel syndrome.
Until recently, little was known about their effects on bowel inflammation, but studies now suggest that these fatty acids help suppress the secretion of enzymes and inflammatory cells, reducing Crohn's symptoms such as pain, bloating, bleeding and bowel problems.
MCTs appear to help protect the epithelium, a living line of defence in the gut that acts as a barrier against a range of substances in the gut, including toxic inhabitants and pathogenic microorganisms.
In people with inflammatory conditions where a healthy mucosal barrier is lost, including those with Crohn's disease, their intestinal epithelial cells secrete a wide range of cytokines when stimulated with pro-inflammatory cytokines or bacterial products.
Although the exact mechanism by which MCTs suppress this process is not yet fully understood, it is thought that they help to inhibit inflammatory cytokine genes, thereby reducing the body's immune responses that re-inflame the intestinal mucosa.
Reduces the risk of antimicrobial resistance
Global concerns about antibiotic resistance have led health experts to look for natural alternatives to antibiotics in the treatment of human and animal infections.
One of the main concerns with using chemical antibiotics to treat infections or viruses is that it increases the risk of antibiotic resistance over time.
As harmful pathogens and bacteria in the body become resistant to drugs and mutate to survive, we must look for other options to treat disease.
Sometimes these options come at a much higher price, take longer to work and cause serious side effects.
A number of safe, natural free fatty acids and their monoglyceride derivatives have antibacterial and antimicrobial activity against a wide range of microorganisms, including caprylic acid and its monoglyceride compounds and monocaprylins.
These appear to inactivate common mastitis pathogens, including Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
One study found that after treating contaminated milk samples, caprylic acid and monocaprylin reduced five types of dangerous pathogens, including E. coli, as well as antibiotics, without the risk of developing bacterial mutations.
The best sources of food and supplements
The best source of caprylic acid is coconut, especially coconut oil, which is a great way to get concentrated medium chain fatty acids.
Other sources include whole cow's milk, peanut butter and even human breast milk.
Coconut oil is the perfect way to get beneficial fatty acids, such as caprylic acid, because it has many other benefits.
In fact, we recommend using coconut oil every day if you can.
Some of the proven benefits of coconut oil:
- Boost the immune system
- Cancer prevention
- Skin and acne support
- Helps with weight loss
- Support for permeable bowel syndrome
- Allergy reduction
- Improved heart health
- Thyroid support
- Reduced fatigue
Caprylic acid supplements: how many and what types?
In addition to getting caprylic acid from whole foods, supplements are becoming more widely available.
There is no dietary requirement for this fatty acid, so no recommended daily intake has been established.
However, health professionals generally recommend taking around 500 to 1000 milligrams three times a day in capsule form for best results.
According to the National Yeast Infection Organisation, capsules may be more effective than caprylic acid taken in liquid form.
Capsules seem to help release the fatty acids slowly into the bloodstream so that they reach the intestinal tract effectively without causing side effects.
The recommended dose of caprylic acid for the treatment of fungal infections (internal or external) in adults aged 18 years and over is 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams per day.
It can be taken three times a day, about 30 minutes before each meal.
Risks and side effects
If you have never taken caprylic acid before, start slowly to avoid upsetting your stomach.
It is recommended that you take one 500 milligram capsule once or twice a day at first, then increase the dosage as you feel comfortable, for 3 or 4 months until the condition disappears.
It is believed that slowly increasing the dose will help the yeast die efficiently and not shock your system into producing another autoimmune reaction.
Are there any risks associated with caprylic acid?
It is generally recognised as safe when taken in capsule form and few, if any, side effects of caprylic acid have been reported at these levels.
However, large amounts of this supplement mixed with other medium-chain triglycerides have caused gastrointestinal problems in a small number of people, but this is not common and generally nothing to worry about.
One thing to note is that caprylic acid capsules are not recommended for breastfeeding or pregnant women as they can cause nausea and worsen existing digestive problems.
If you are interested in taking caprylic acid while breastfeeding, are pregnant or have a medical condition, you should consult your doctor first.