Introduction to Capsaicin
Capsaicin is the main ingredient behind the “hot” in chili peppers. When consumed in a somewhat diluted form, capsaicin has a myriad of health benefits. Some of these include the treatment of nerve disorders and neuropathy, pain relief, and psoriasis treatment. Capsaicin is also known to improve the metabolism.
Capsaicin is the major ingredient in hot peppers (R).
Introduction
Capsaicin may promote vascular and metabolic health by improving cardiac hypertrophy, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, obesity, and gastric ulceration.
Capsaicin may be used as a treatment for different forms of cancer through apoptosis induction, and may also be a useful treatment for psoriasis.
There is a capsaicin receptor expressed by primary sensory neurons in the pain pathway. In vitro, mice without this receptor had impaired pain sensation (R).
The Biological Mechanism of Capsaicin
Capsaicin initially causes an intense excitation of sensory neurons, followed by a long period of insensitivity to physiochemical stimuli.
Capsaicin may also decrease the amount of Substance P in the spinal cord, but not in the brain. Substance P is also known as SP, and may be involved in how pain transmits through the synapse.
Health Benefits of Capsaicin
1) Capsaicin Delays Stroke Occurrence and Prevents Hypertrophy
Capsaicin ingested orally in mice through activation of endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS, nitric oxide in the blood vessel wall), which may help delay stroke occurrence. This, in turn, is associated with increased lifespan in the mice.
Capsaicin has anti-hypertensive effects in rats prone to hypertension and blunts the nocturnal rise in blood pressure that occurs in rats fed a high-sodium diet. This may be due to the inhibitory effect of renal sodium retention.
Capsaicin is also known to externally dilate the coronary arteries of pigs. However, direct application of capsaicin on vascular smooth muscle promotes constriction because of increased calcium influx.
2) Capsaicin Helps with Weight Loss
Clinical trials have shown that capsaicin:
- increases metabolic rate
- increases fat burning rate
- decreases appetite by increasing GLP-1 secretion and triggering appetite-regulation center in the brain
- increase energy expenditure by 50 kcal/day, without impact on heart rate
When ingested orally with green tea as a beverage, participants claimed to feel less hungry, and this effect in turn led them to eat less during meals.
Early research indicates that taking capsaicin as a weight-loss supplement is safe, but more must be known about its effectiveness (R).
3) Capsaicin May Improve Metabolism
Capsaicin increases metabolism by activating the TRPV1 receptors. These receptors are responsible for the regulation of body temperature as well as pain sensation.
Upon activation, the receptors increase calcium influx, which furthers the expression of antioxidant enzymes, while decreasing the expression of proinflammatory proteins.
Through this mechanism, capsaicin promotes sympathetic stimulation of brown fat in the gastrointestinal tract, which raises the basal metabolic rate.
TRPV1 activation causes interactions in the liver, causing a protective antioxidant in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and on vascular endothelium in cases of elevated blood sugar (R).
4) Capsaicin Helps Heal Stomach Ulcers
Capsaicin is thought to prevent gastric ulcers from forming, and may also help heal existing ones. Capsaicin does this by inhibiting gastric acid secretion, boosting alkali and mucus secretion, and stimulating gastric blood flow.
Capsaicin slows gastric tissue damage and bleeding, indicating that capsaicin can be used as an alternative to nonsteroidal and anti-inflammatory drug therapy (R).
5) Capsaicin Inhibits Prostate Cancer
Capsaicin, given orally, significantly slowed the growth of PC-3 prostate cancer xenografts, measured by size and weight (R).
Capsaicin has an inhibiting effect on growing prostate cancer cells, by inducing death of both the positive and negative androgen receptors in said cells.
Capsaicin decreased expression and inhibited transcription of prostate-specific antigens and inhibited NF-kappa and proteasome activity.
Although some research shows capsaicin can be used as a cancer treatment, other studies have shown it as ineffective, or as an irritant.
Further research is needed to determine exactly how and when it should be used in regard to cancer and its efficacy must be redetermined at that time (R).
6) Capsaicin Induces Apoptosis (Cell Death)
Capsaicin has apoptotic effects on gastric cancer cells, pancreatic cancer cells, and colon cancer cells, indicating that it may be useful as a cancer treatment.
In gastric cancer cells, capsaicin induces apoptosis, which may be useful for cancer progression (R).
7) Using Capsaicin As a Treatment For Psoriasis
Capsaicin is able to inhibit widening of the skin’s blood vessels (cutaneous vasodilation), showing its effectiveness as a potential psoriasis treatment.
Capsaicin is also thought to reduce of scaling and erythema (patchy redness) of the skin.
However, some patients may experience burning, stinging, itching, and redness as side effects from topical capsaicin use, although these symptoms diminished or disappeared with continued use (R).
8) Capsaicin As a Treatment for COPD, Emphysema, or Other Lung Issues
Recent studies have tested subjects’ responsiveness to inhaled capsaicin with respect to their level of cough. Several different studies were performed on those who suffer from diseases such as asthma, COPD (chronic pulmonary lung disease), and emphysema.
In diseases such as COPD, it is noted that chronic cough occurs from the accumulation of mucus. While cough responsiveness due to inhaled capsaicin differed across disease thresholds, the capsaicin itself helps to break up mucus and relieve phlegm.
In turn, use of capsaicin makes the cough associated with chronic lung conditions less frequent and less painful. (R) (R)
9) Capsaicin As Pain Management Treatment
The use of capsaicin in topical form is associated with the relief of pain. However, this type of pain management is more associated with the relief or skin and topical problems as well as arthritis.
Patients in search of a non-narcotic alternative who need stronger pain relief are advised to try a concentrated capsaicin patch. Because capsaicin is known to decrease the amount of Substance P (SP) in the spinal cord, it thereby tricks the brain’s aforementioned TRPV1 receptors, bringing about an MoA (mechanization of action) that naturally decreases pain.
This stronger patch may be of reliable help when it comes to back pain relief, and other chronic pain conditions. (R)
10) The Use of Capsaicin As a Topical Treatment for Osteoporosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Capsaicin is a relevant treatment for bone and joint diseases such as osteoporosis, in addition to being a worthwhile option for disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. Topically administered, patients that suffer from musculoskeletal and other neuropathic disorders were able to relieve pain associated with the disease (R).
Capsaicin, when used as a treatment for musculoskeletal disorders, is applied via a cream, patch, or gel. Similarly to other disorders and respective treatments, patients may experience skin irritation or burning, but in most, these side effects disappear with continued use.
Results differ by disorder; one in six patients who suffer from neuropathy experienced relief from capsaicin, while one in eight subjects who suffer from musculoskeletal ailments found capsaicin therapeutic (R).
11) Capsaicin Affects Cutaneous Autonomic Nerve Fibers
Clinical trials show that capsaicin, when applied topically, is responsible for the degeneration of cutaneous nerve fibers, affecting vasomotor and sensory function (R).
Damage to cutaneous nerve fibers is often responsible for nerve injuries such as meralgia paresthetica, cutaneous nerve entrapment system (ACNES), and other nervous system disorders.
Such as the aforementioned discussion of capsaicin as a treatment for musculoskeletal disorders, it is a viable and effective treatment for neuropathy in some patients. Marketed as Qutenza, high-dose capsaicin treatment is effective at relieving severe nerve pain in clinical trials and was therefore approved by the FDA as a viable treatment. Patients who suffer from severe neuropathy or nerve pain would be wise to suggest high-dose capsaicin to their physician as a viable form of treatment (R)(R).
12) Capsaicin Relief from Canker Sores
Capsaicin has long been regarded as a naturopathic solution to the reduction of pain caused by canker sores and other sores in the mouth. Natural recipes for remedies, such as capsaicin taffy, are widely available for public use, and some patients report this as an effective treatment for canker sores (R).
Topical capsaicin has also been proven effective in the treatment of burning mouth syndrome (BMS), although capsaicin’s naturally irritating quality may have an adverse effect on some users (R).
Capsaicin and Gene-Specific Polymorphisms
A 2014 study was conducted to identify SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) via association mapping in capsaicin pathways (R).
This association mapping at the gene level included the genes CCR, HCT, KAS, and Pun1 with the intent to identify SNP locations.
Results concluded that the gene Pun1 was associated with six main and three other metabolites found in the capsaicin pathway. These include valine, pyruvate, leucine, and dihydrocapsaicin, among others. Sequencing in the CCR and KAS genes also provided further details into capsaicinoid metabolism and its function (R).
This type of research serves to provide insight on the health benefits of capsaicin, and why it has such high efficacy for so many different ailments and disorders. Mapping at the gene level not only provides information on why capsaicin is effective in the pharmaceutical industry, but aids farmers and curators in improving the nutritional value of the pepper itself (R).
Capsaicin Dosage
Dosage varies widely with different administrations. The most common administrative forms of capsaicin include creams, patches, and gels. Capsaicin can be administered to both children and adults. The product is sold under many different brand names and forms. It is always best to read a label fully before application.
Normal adults may apply the 0.075% cream up to four times per day, or apply the 0.025%, 0.03%, 0.0375%, or 0.05% patch for up to eight hours. The patch application should not exceed more than five consecutive days.
Capsaicin Safety
The most common side effects from capsaicin use are skin irritation and burning. In many cases, these instances disappear within a few days of use. If conditions persist, it is always wise to contact a doctor before continuing therapy.
Some forms of capsaicin contain benzyl alcohol, which is associated with toxic gasping syndrome. Patients with an acute allergy to benzyl alcohol should read the label completely and fully or avoid the product completely.
In some cases, capsaicin has been known to cause second- and third-degree burns on skin. If risk is suspected, proceed to the nearest emergency room and discontinue use.
Capsaicin may cause CNS (central nervous system) depression in some patients. For this reason, users should not operate machinery or drive a car until they are aware of how their body reacts to treatment.
There have been no adverse effects associated with pregnant women, and capsaicin itself is labeled as pregnancy risk factor B (R).
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