Capsaicin Research Analysis

Frank, Kurtis; Patel, Kamal; Lopez, Gregory; Willis, Bill

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Capsaicin

The exact molecule found in hot peppers that burns your face off, acts via adrenaline receptors and TRPV1 (like Evodia) to increase heat quickly. Can burn body fat with minimal potency, fight inflammation with decent potency, and prevent cancer with indeterminate potency.

Research analysis led by Kamal Patel and reviewed by the Examine team.
Last Updated: Jun 14, 2018

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Human Effect Matrix

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The Human Effect Matrix summarizes human studies to tell you what effects Capsaicin has on your body, how much evidence there is, and how strong these effects are.
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Grade	Level of Evidence [show legend]
	Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials
	Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled
	Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies
	Uncontrolled or observational studies only

Outcome	Magnitude of effect ? The direction and size of the supplement's impact on each outcome. Some supplements can have an increasing effect, others have a decreasing effect, and others have no effect.	Consistency of research results ? Scientific research does not always agree. HIGH or VERY HIGH means that most of the scientific research agrees.	Notes
Blood glucose	Minor	- See study	A possible reduction in blood glucose may occur secondary to pancreatic stimulation with high doses of capsaicin
Insulin	Minor	- See study	High doses of capsaicin may induce insulin release from the pancreas
Blood Pressure	-	- See study
Fat Oxidation	-	- See study
Food Intake	-	- See study
Heart Rate	-	- See 2 studies
VO₂ Max	-	- See study

Studies Excluded from Consideration

Used peppers (vegetables) rather than isolated capsaicin^[1]
Confounded with caffeine and/or black pepper^[2]^[3]

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Things to Note

Is a Form Of

Primary Function:

Fat Loss

Other Functions:

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory

Also Known As

Chili extract, Hot pepper extract, trans-8-methyl-N-Vanilyl-6-nonenamide, Capsaicinoids

Do Not Confuse With

Piperine (Black Pepper extract)

Caution Notice

Known to interact with enzymes of drug metabolism

Although technically a CYP3A4 inhibitor, it appears chronic ingestion causes an upregulation (increase) in CYP3A4 related activity

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