There has been much interest in the parenteral use of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) as a noncarbohydrate energy source. This study examines the effects of infusion iv into postabsorptive normal subjects with three doses (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 g/kg.15 h) of an emulsion containing 56% MCT and 44% long-chain triglyceride (LCT) and comparing its metabolic effect with infusions of normal saline (NS) and an emulsion containing LCT alone. There were significant increases in serum beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate 5 and 15 h after the start of the MCT-LCT infusions. Increases were seen only after 15 h of NS, while none was observed during LCT alone. Triglycerides were increased in a dose-related fashion with MCT-LCT and were increased even further with LCT alone. Glycerol increased in a dose-related fashion both during the MCT-LCT and LCT infusion beginning immediately (0.5 h) after the start of the infusion. With NS infusion, glycerol increased significantly only after 15 h of infusion. The MCT-LCT mixture and the highest LCT dose resulted in a significant (12%) increase in oxygen consumption after 5 h of infusion. There was no difference in oral glucose tolerance between the various infusions. Infusion of MCT results in significant ketogenesis and more study is needed to determine its clinical utility.