MCT oil is a refined oil made mostly of caprylic and capric triglycerides: fats whose fatty acids have 8 or 10 carbon atoms. It's made from coconut or palm kernel oil, but it isn't the same thing as either. At Canna River it's the first ingredient in all nine tinctures and all four softgels, because CBD needs an oil to dissolve in and MCT oil is a light, nearly tasteless one that stays liquid.
What "MCT" means
MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides. A triglyceride is the basic form of nearly every fat and oil: three fatty acids attached to one glycerol molecule. "Medium-chain" refers to the length of those fatty acids, counted in carbon atoms.
The pharmaceutical standard, the USP–NF monograph for Medium-Chain Triglycerides, defines the ingredient as a mixture of triglycerides of saturated fatty acids, "mainly of caprylic acid" and "capric acid," with at least 95% of the fatty acids having 8 or 10 carbon atoms. One of its listed synonyms is "caprylic and capric triglycerides."
| Fatty acid | Carbon atoms | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Caproic (hexanoic) acid | 6 | Counted as medium-chain in the broadest definitions |
| Caprylic (octanoic) acid | 8 | A main component of MCT oil |
| Capric (decanoic) acid | 10 | A main component of MCT oil |
| Lauric (dodecanoic) acid | 12 | Sometimes counted as medium-chain; very little in commercial MCT oil |
The boundaries aren't fixed. A 2022 review in Frontiers in Nutrition notes that the broadest definition runs from 6 to 12 carbons, that many researchers treat only the 8- and 10-carbon acids as medium-chain, and that "there are no clear definitions." For the oil itself, the USP–NF figure of at least 95% C8 and C10 is the useful benchmark.
MCT oil is not coconut oil
MCT oil starts from coconut or palm kernel oil, and the USP–NF monograph names both as sources. But the finished oil has a very different makeup. According to the same Frontiers review, about 60% of the fatty acids in coconut oil fall in the 8-to-12-carbon range, yet only about 10% are the 8- and 10-carbon acids that make up nearly all of MCT oil. Most of the rest of coconut oil is lauric acid and longer-chain fats.
MCT oil was developed commercially in the 1950s, when Drew Chemical found a use for the 8- and 10-carbon fatty acids left over from processing coconut oil. The review notes that commercial MCT oil is still made mostly of those two acids today.
Why CBD needs a carrier oil at all
CBD doesn't dissolve in water. The prescription label for Epidiolex, the CBD medicine approved by FDA, describes cannabidiol as "insoluble in water," and that product itself is a solution of CBD in sesame oil. A CBD tincture works the same way: the CBD has to be dissolved in an oil so that a measured amount can be dropped out of the bottle with the same strength each time.
Several oils could do that job. MCT oil suits a tincture for three reasons you can check on a bottle:
- It's nearly tasteless. The Frontiers review describes MCTs as "almost tasteless and odorless." The unflavored Classic tinctures list only two ingredients: MCT oil and hemp distillate.
- It stays liquid. MCTs are liquid at room temperature, so the oil pours and fills a dropper.
- It's a defined ingredient. A pharmacopeia standard sets its composition: at least 95% 8- and 10-carbon fatty acids.
Where MCT oil appears in Canna River products
| Product type | MCT oil? | Position on the ingredient list |
|---|---|---|
| Tinctures: Classic, CBD + CBN, CBD + CBG and CBD + CBN + CBG, original and Ultra strengths (8) | Yes | First |
| Pet tincture | Yes | First |
| Softgels (4) | Yes, inside a tapioca starch and vegetable glycerin shell | First |
| Body Lotion | Yes, listed as "Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride" | Second, after water |
| Gummies (8) | No | — |
| Body Balm | No; uses coconut oil and shea butter | — |
| Pet treats | No; use coconut oil | — |
The lotion entry is worth knowing if you read cosmetic labels. "Caprylic/capric triglyceride" is the cosmetic ingredient name for the same family of fats, so the lotion and the tinctures share an ingredient under two different names.
The product pages don't state which plant Canna River's MCT oil comes from or whether it carries any certification, so this post doesn't either.
Frequently asked questions
Is MCT oil the same as coconut oil?
No. MCT oil is made from coconut or palm kernel oil, but it's refined down to mostly 8- and 10-carbon fatty acids, which make up only about 10% of coconut oil. It stays liquid at room temperature.
Why is MCT oil in CBD tinctures?
CBD doesn't dissolve in water, so it's dissolved in an oil. MCT oil is nearly tasteless and stays liquid, which suits a product measured out by the mL.
Which Canna River products contain MCT oil?
All nine tinctures, including the pet tincture, and all four softgels list it first. The Body Lotion lists it as caprylic/capric triglyceride. The gummies, Body Balm and pet treats don't contain it.
Do Canna River gummies contain MCT oil?
No. The gummies are made with tapioca syrup, sugar and pectin, with the hemp distillate mixed in.
Canna River products are intended for adults 21 and over. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
