Supplement
Capsaicin is the compound that gives chili peppers their heat, and applied to a sore area it wears down substance P, a messenger that nerve endings use to carry pain signals. People mostly look at it for pain, and the evidence is strong for general pain relief and moderate for nerve pain, diabetic neuropathy and low back pain. Beyond pain, evidence is limited: one small study of 12 people found blood glucose improved.
Sources: PMID 19260251
- Updated
- How we grade
- 3 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade C
- Conditions studied
- 4
- Outcomes
- 13
- Graded outcomes
- 0041
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood glucose Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 12 people | ||
Studies that measured blood glucose | ||||||
| Fat Oxidation Small Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 10 people | |||
| Heart Rate | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 10 people | |||
Studies that measured heart rate | ||||||
| Insulin | Changes; see studies | 12 people | ||||
| Oxygen Uptake | Improves (the measure goes up) | 10 people | ||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fat Oxidation Small Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 10 people | |||
| Heart Rate | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 10 people | |||
Studies that measured heart rate | ||||||
| Oxygen Uptake | Improves (the measure goes up) | 10 people | ||||
General Athletic Performance
- Fat Oxidation: improves
- Heart Rate: improves
- Oxygen Uptake: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fat Oxidation Small Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 10 people | |||
| Heart Rate | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 10 people | |||
Studies that measured heart rate | ||||||
| Oxygen Uptake | Improves (the measure goes up) | 10 people | ||||
Weight Loss & Maintenance
- Blood Pressure
- Food Intake: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure No effect | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 16 people | |||
Studies that measured blood pressure | ||||||
| Food Intake | Changes; see studies | 16 people | ||||
Key findings
- Blood glucoseImproves (the measure goes down)
- Fat OxidationImproves (the measure goes up)
- Blood Pressure
Shop Capsaicin
Third-party tested Capsaicin products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.
- Grade C
Links to Fullscript, iHerb or Thorne carry our referral, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come from the research and never change based on what we earn. Fullscript asks for a free account before it shows its catalog and prices. Full disclosure
Studies cited
3 studies from PubMed
- Pharmacokinetic and the effect of capsaicin in Capsicum frutescens on decreasing plasma glucose level
- Alterations of autonomic nervous activity and energy metabolism by capsaicin ingestion during aerobic exercise in healthy men
- Maximum tolerable dose of red pepper decreases fat intake independently of spicy sensation in the mouth