What are capsaicin’s main benefits?

    Last Updated: May 8, 2024

    Capsaicin and its analogues (e.g., capsiate, a non-spicy capsaicinoid) show promise as preworkout ergogenic supplements, producing small improvements in performance on strength-based exercises (e.g., squats) when taken about 45 minutes before a workout.[1][2]

    Capsaicinoids like capsaicin might lead to weight loss, but the effect seems very small, if it exists at all.[3] Intriguingly, two clinical trials found that capsaicinoids led to a decrease in abdominal/visceral fat (with no change in total body fat levels).[4][5]

    Consuming foods high in capsaicin (e.g, chili peppers) is associated with a lower risk of early death, possibly mediated by a reduction in heart disease mortality.[6]

    Topical application of capsaicin can be helpful for nerve pain, with analgesic effects reported in the context of diabetes and HIV-associated neuropathy as well as shingles-related neuralgia.[7][8] Topical capsaicin may also reduce pain due to osteoarthritis.[9][10]

    References

    1. ^Sheikhhossein F, Amini MR, Askari M, Pourreza S, Hosseini F, Clark CCT, Djafarian K, Ghanbari M, Shab-Bidar SThe effects of capsinoids supplementation on body composition and anthropometric measures: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Clin Nutr ESPEN.(2022-Dec)
    2. ^de Moura E Silva VEL, Cholewa JM, Jäger R, Zanchi NE, de Freitas MC, de Moura RC, Barros EML, Antunes BM, Caperuto EC, Ribeiro SLG, Lira FS, Pereira Dos Santos MA, Rossi FEChronic capsiate supplementation increases fat-free mass and upper body strength but not the inflammatory response to resistance exercise in young untrained men: a randomized, placebo-controlled and double-blind study.J Int Soc Sports Nutr.(2021-Jun-21)
    3. ^Zhang W, Zhang Q, Wang L, Zhou Q, Wang P, Qing Y, Sun CThe effects of capsaicin intake on weight loss among overweight and obese subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Br J Nutr.(2023-Nov-14)
    4. ^Snitker S, Fujishima Y, Shen H, Ott S, Pi-Sunyer X, Furuhata Y, Sato H, Takahashi MEffects of novel capsinoid treatment on fatness and energy metabolism in humans: possible pharmacogenetic implications.Am J Clin Nutr.(2009-Jan)
    5. ^Cha YS, Kim SR, Yang JA, Back HI, Kim MG, Jung SJ, Song WO, Chae SWKochujang, fermented soybean-based red pepper paste, decreases visceral fat and improves blood lipid profiles in overweight adults.Nutr Metab (Lond).(2013-Feb-26)
    6. ^Ofori-Asenso R, Mohsenpour MA, Nouri M, Faghih S, Liew D, Mazidi MAssociation of Spicy Chilli Food Consumption With Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.Angiology.(2021-Aug)
    7. ^Derry S, Rice AS, Cole P, Tan T, Moore RATopical capsaicin (high concentration) for chronic neuropathic pain in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2017-Jan-13)
    8. ^van Nooten F, Treur M, Pantiri K, Stoker M, Charokopou MCapsaicin 8% Patch Versus Oral Neuropathic Pain Medications for the Treatment of Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Literature Review and Network Meta-analysis.Clin Ther.(2017-Apr)
    9. ^Persson MSM, Stocks J, Walsh DA, Doherty M, Zhang WThe relative efficacy of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and capsaicin in osteoarthritis: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Osteoarthritis Cartilage.(2018-Dec)
    10. ^Laslett LL, Jones GCapsaicin for osteoarthritis pain.Prog Drug Res.(2014)