Axona is a medical food which is said to meet the nutritional needs of patients suffering from medium to mild degree of Alzheimer’s disease. Known as a capriledene based prescription medical food because it primarily comprises of caprylic triglyceride, axona medical food has proved its effectiveness in a scientific way. The caprylic triglyceride used is more than 95% per cent pure and it is semi-synthetic in nature.

What is caprylic triglyceride?

This medium-chain triglyceride or MCT has been recognised as a safe product by the FDA. Thus it falls under the category of GRAS or chemical substances which are "Generally Recognised As Safe". This it would not be wrong to say that this MCT has already proved its safety in front of science experts having ample training and the required experience to evaluate the same. Currently, this MCT is used in the form of axona treatment and given to patients suffering from Alzheimer’s under medical supervision.

Other instances wherein MCTs like caprylic triglycerides have proved their effectiveness are:

• As dietary supplements in sports nutrition,
• Refractive epilepsy,
• Diseases characterised by mal-absorption and needing enteral support on a prolonged basis etc.

Ingredients making up Axona

While the MCT caprylic triglyceride makes up the major chunk of Axona, there are other major ingredients which, coupled with caprylic triglyceride, account for the effectiveness of Axona. These ingredients are:

• Potassium Caseinate which is a protein derived from milk,
• Whey Protein,
• Maltodextrin,
• Phosphates of Dimagnesium, Tricalcium And Dipotassium,
• Distilled Monoglyceride,
• Sugar, Sunflower Oil and Soy Lecithin etc.

The Axona medical food is also made up of certain minor ingredients which make up less than 2% of the same as:

• Natural extract of vanilla bean,
• Acesulfame potassium,
• Silicon dioxide and
• Sucralose.

 In order to get the best benefits, Axona needs to be taken orally only once every day preferably after a full meal. For seasoned patients, the dosage is one packet or 40gms per day under medical supervision but new patients should start with graduated dosage pattern as prescribed by a doctor.

Ideally, this medical food powder needs to be added to about 4 ounces to 8 ounces of fluids and consumed. It should be blended or shaken well so that it gets completely mixed before consumption. Once blended, this reconstituted product can also be kept in the refrigerator for a maximum of 24 hours. However, when taken out of the refrigerator for consumption it needs to be re-blended and mixed thoroughly.

In a very small minority of patients, this axona treatment needs to be gradually titrated so that proper acclimatisation can happen.

A word of caution

It should be noted that people who have symptoms of ketoacidosis or are at a risk for the same should refrain from taking Axona. Thus people who should not opt for Axona are those that suffer from:

• Alcohol, abuse,
• Poorly managed diabetes,
• Gastrointestinal inflation,
• Renal dysfunction and
• Metabolic syndromes etc.

Axona has been statistically noted to bring relief to people suffering from Alzheimer’s provided they do not suffer from the above-mentioned instances of ketoacidosis. It is a medical food which definitely helps in the management of the symptoms for the same.