Supplement
Red paprika extract is a concentrate of the red carotenoid pigments in peppers, chiefly capsanthin, which can act as antioxidants in the body. Antioxidant activity is the main interest, and lab studies found capsanthin and related carotenoids mopped up free radicals, though the evidence is very limited. Most of that work was done in lab settings, and no human trials have tested the extract itself.
Sources: PMID 36999721; PMID 26868549
- Updated
- How we grade
- 3 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade D
- Conditions studied
- 1
- Outcomes
- 3
- Graded outcomes
- 0003
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant Status In vitro studies demonstrate that capsanthin and other paprika-derived carotenoids exhibit antioxidant activity. A 2023 review summarized the pharmacological activities of capsanthin including free radical scavenging, but human clinical trials specifically on paprika extract are lacking. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 3 studies | |||
Studies that measured antioxidant status
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General
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Health Mechanistic and review-level evidence suggests paprika carotenoids, particularly capsanthin and beta-carotene, may support skin health through antioxidant photoprotective mechanisms. No controlled human trials on paprika extract for skin outcomes have been identified. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | |||
| Eye Health Paprika extract contains zeaxanthin and other carotenoids relevant to macular pigment. Carotenoid profiling studies confirm the presence of eye-relevant xanthophylls in Capsicum annuum varieties, but no human trials have tested paprika extract specifically for ocular endpoints. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | |||
Studies that measured eye health | ||||||
Key findings
- Antioxidant StatusImproves (the measure goes up)
- Skin HealthImproves (the measure goes up)
- Eye HealthImproves (the measure goes up)
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Third-party tested Red Paprika Extract products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.
- Grade D
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Studies cited
3 studies from PubMed
- Senise Red Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Wastes as Source of Rich Capsanthin Extracts by Supercritical CO2 Extraction.
- Biological Importance, Pharmacological Activities, and Nutraceutical Potential of Capsanthin: A Review of Capsicum Plant Capsaicinoids.
- Carotenoid profiling from 27 types of paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) with different colors, shapes, and cultivation methods.