Investigating the effect of medium-chain triglycerides on Th17 and regulatory T cells in 7 healthy beagles

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) enriched diets are used to treat epilepsy
and cognitive dysfunction in dogs and humans, however, the exact therapeutic
mechanism remains largely unclear. Increased levels of Th17 and a
Th17/Treg cell imbalance have been suggested to influence seizure severity,
behavioural comorbidities and response to treatment in a subset of
patients with epilepsy. In children with intractable epilepsy, a ketogenic diet
has been shown to correct a Th17/Treg cell imbalance. To investigate
whether oral supplementation ofMCT has an effect on Th17 and Treg cells
in clinically healthy dogs, we measured absolute numbers of Th17 and Treg
cells in peripheral blood of 7 healthy beagles using multicolor flow cytometry.
Blood samples were collected at three different time points: while
feeding a commercial hypoallergenic diet, 2 hours after one dose of MCT
and after 2 weeks of feeding a diet enriched with MCT (9% of caloric
intake). The study was conducted in accordance with the local animal welfare
and ethic procedures (Approval number: 33.12-42502-04-20/3352).
Two hours after a single MCT feed, levels of stimulated Th17 cells were
elevated, while the absolute number of regulatory T cells decreased. There
were no significant changes in the absolute number of Th17 and Treg cells
after two weeks of feeding a diet enriched with MCT compared to the
measurement before feeding MCT. In conclusion, where a one-off MCT
administration did influence Th17 and Treg cells levels in peripheral blood
in healthy dogs, a two week MCT administration had no influence.