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Home > Nutrition > Capsaicin: 8 Health Benefits and Precautions

Capsaicin: 8 Health Benefits and Precautions

Updated on November 11, 2022
6 min read
By Shiza Khan, M.Sc. – Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics | Dietitian/Nutritionist

In this article:

  • Health Benefits of Capsaicin
  • Precautions to Consider
  • Most-Asked Questions About Capsaicin
  • Final Word

Capsaicin is a flavonoid present in chili peppers and is responsible for their spiciness. Many cultures around the world use chili peppers in their everyday cooking and reap its many health benefits.

health benefits of capsaicin

Capsaicin is found in varying amounts in all types of peppers including capsicum. (1) It is widely used and studied for its pain-relieving property, and studies have found it has more than one benefit.

Health Benefits of Capsaicin

Including sources of capsaicin in the diet can offer these health benefits.

1. Improves metabolism and weight loss

An improved metabolism can be valuable in boosting energy and reducing weight. Make sure you flavor your food with paprika and use capsicum as both of these are safe sources of capsaicin.

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In a study of 75 people, using 4 mg capsaicin for 12 weeks reduced close to 6% of total body fat, proving it to be useful in the fight against obesity. (2)

In another study on people with obesity, 6 mg capsaicin consumption each day for 12 weeks reduced belly fat and some overall fat loss. It is also able to sustain weight loss by aiding the body in using fat as an energy source. (3)

2. Promotes heart health

capsaicin is beneficial for your heart health

Heart diseases have become increasingly common in today’s world. Untreated or unmanaged heart diseases can lead to further complications and may even result in death.

Fortunately, dietary modifications such as including capsaicin-rich foods in the diet can help.

In one study, subjects who consumed 4 mg capsaicin each day twice daily for 3 months had reduced levels of total triglyceride (a type of fat involved in atherosclerosis and increasing belly fat). The study suggested capsaicin was effective in reducing the risk of heart disease. (4)

Capsaicin is also involved in reducing hypertension by influencing substances in the body that relax blood vessels to ease the flow of blood. Animal studies have also found capsaicin to increase the amount of sodium excreted via urine and help in the reduction of blood pressure in a high-salt diet. (5)

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3. Relieves pain

Many topical painkiller ointments contain capsaicin due to its potent pain-killing activity. Experts have identified capsaicin to first increase the sensation of pain upon application before numbing it. Repeated application makes the pain-sensitive nerves lose their ability to detect pain, thus reducing discomfort. (1)

Capsaicin-based creams are especially useful in people suffering from osteoarthritis (a common joint pain) and muscle strain. (6)

4. Reduces migraine

capsaicin consumption can help reduce migraine risks

Capsaicin’s natural painkiller activity also brings relief from migraine and cluster headaches. People who suffer from migraine experience debilitating pain that can hinder their work and daily life.

Topical application of capsaicin reduces migraine by causing relaxation of nerves and blood vessels, thereby easing the pain. (7)

5. Controls diabetes

In addition to its role in improving heart health and weight loss, capsaicin also has antidiabetic effects.

Animal studies report the use of 6 mg capsaicin each day for 28 days reduced intestinal absorption of sugar and increased the amount of insulin. Both these functions work together to bring down blood sugar levels effectively. (8)

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Not only this but capsaicin has also been found to improve complications of diabetes such as diabetic neuropathy or nerve pain. (9)

6. Manages psoriasis

capsaicin creams when applied topically can treat psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition where red, itchy, and swollen patches appear on the skin. It causes discomfort, dryness, and even bleeding. Most cases of psoriasis are managed by the use of topical medicated creams.

Recently, capsaicin creams have found their spot in the management of the inflammation, itchiness, and pain caused by psoriasis. (10)

7. Can help relieve sore throat

Capsaicin can be used to treat sore throat that patients may experience after surgery. (11) In people suffering from swallowing difficulty, capsaicin can also improve cough reflex sensitivity. (11)

8. May prevent cancer

Capsaicin has been known to have a protective role against cancer.

In lab and animal studies, capsaicin was able to reduce the spread of cancerous cells in various types of cancers. It also acts as an antioxidant that reduces the activity of free radicals that can damage healthy cells and turn them cancerous. (12)

However, note that capsaicin alone cannot be helpful in curing cancer. A multitude of therapies are required, and you must consult a doctor for the appropriate treatment.

Precautions to Consider

precautions to take prior capsaicin usage

While capsaicin has many health benefits, care must be taken in its consumption and overuse must be avoided.

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Some of its associated risks include: (11)

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Heartburn
  • Sinus and upper respiratory tract infections
  • Headache
  • Indigestion
  • Dizziness
  • Gastric ulcers
  • Throat infection

Most-Asked Questions About Capsaicin

Do capsaicin supplements work?

Capsaicin supplements are readily available and are generally safe to consume. However, do consult a doctor to identify a safe dose for you.

Who should avoid taking capsaicin?

People with allergies and those that experience adverse side effects such as the ones listed above need to stop taking capsaicin immediately.

Final Word

Capsaicin obtained naturally from capsicum and other chili peppers is an underrated compound that has many health benefits. It can reduce various types of pain, boost metabolism to aid weight loss, improve heart health, and protect against diabetes.

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Generally safe to consume, capsaicin may have some side effects when overconsumed or in people with allergies.

References
  1. Fattori V, Hohmann MSN, Rossaneis AC, Pinho-Ribeiro FA, Verri WA. Capsaicin: Current understanding of its mechanisms and therapy of pain and other pre-clinical and clinical uses. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6273101/. Published June 28, 2016.  
  2. Rogers J, Urbina SL, Taylor LW, et al. Capsaicinoids supplementation decreases percent body fat and fat mass: Adjustment using covariates in a post hoc analysis. BMC obesity. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6088424/. Published August 13, 2018.  
  3. Zheng J, Zheng S, Feng Q, Zhang Q, Xiao X. Dietary capsaicin and its anti-obesity potency: From mechanism to clinical implications. Bioscience reports. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5426284/. Published May 11, 2017.  
  4. Qin Y; Ran L; Wang J; Yu L; Lang HD; Wang XL; Mi MT; Zhu JD; Capsaicin supplementation improved risk factors of coronary heart disease in individuals with low HDL-C Levels. Nutrients. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28930174/.  
  5. Sun F, Xiong S, Zhu Z. Dietary capsaicin protects cardiometabolic organs from dysfunction. Nutrients. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4882656/. Published April 25, 2016.  
  6. Basith S, Cui M, Hong S, Choi S. Harnessing the therapeutic potential of capsaicin and its analogues in pain and other diseases. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6272969/. Published July 23, 2016.  
  7. Buntinx L, Vermeersch S, de Hoon J. Development of anti-migraine therapeutics using the capsaicin-induced dermal blood flow model. British journal of clinical pharmacology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4631172/. Published November 2015.  
  8. Zhang S; Ma X; Zhang L; Sun H; Liu X; Capsaicin reduces blood glucose by increasing insulin levels and glycogen content better than capsiate in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28230360/.  
  9. Dludla PV, Nkambule BB, Cirilli I, et al. Capsaicin, its clinical significance in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332222008289. Published July 21, 2022.  
  10. Chan TC; Lee MS; Huang WC; Chang WY; Krueger JG; Tsai TF; Capsaicin attenuates imiquimod-induced epidermal hyperplasia and cutaneous inflammation in a murine model of psoriasis. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34328106/.  
  11. Capsaicin – statpearls – NCBI bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459168/.
  12. Popescu GDA, Scheau C, Badarau IA, et al. The effects of capsaicin on gastrointestinal cancers. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7794743/. Published December 28, 2020.
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