Chili Pepper Extract Health Benefits, Supplement Uses & Safety

Chili pepper extract supplements contain antioxidant plant chemicals which are linked with various health benefits.

The most studied of these is capsaicin, the natural compound that makes chili peppers taste hot. The most capsaicinoids found in these peppers, the spicier they taste.

Chili peppers (Capsicum annuum) are used both as culinary ingredients and as dietary supplements. They have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years.

Capsaicin is associated with benefits for pain relief, digestion, heart health, circulation and more. When combined with healthy lifestyle modifications, chili extracts may support weight loss.

There are a number of varieties of chili peppers, including cayenne, bell, jalapeno, habanero, ghost, banana, chipotle and serrano peppers. Of these, red cayenne peppers are the best-studied for their health benefits.

Capsaicin

Pepper Extract

Joints

Appetite Control

Vitality

How It Works:

• Supports healthy digestion & blood flow
• Promotes joint function & pain relief
• Promotes appetite control & weight loss

Dosage:

Between 1000 - 2000 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Chili Pepper Extract Benefits

Chili peppers are fruits of the Capsicum genus of plants, a member of the nightshade or Solanaceae family.

These peppers contain varying amounts of capsaicin and other capsaicinoids. Peppers that contain more capsaicin taste hotter and more pungent when they are consumed.

Chili peppers are measured for their heat content using the Scoville Heat Scale. For instance, a jalapeno pepper scores about 5000 SHU (Scoville Heat Units) on the scale while hotter habaneros commonly score over 200,000 SHU.

Currently, the hottest known chili pepper, the Carolina Reaper, scores over 2 million on the Scoville scale. Pure capsaicin extract is reported to be between 15,000,000 – 16,000,000 on the scale.

In traditional medicine practices around the world, chili peppers were used to promote longevity, increased blood flow, vitality and relief from digestive conditions. They were also prepared into a topical poultice and applied to wounds to promote skin healing.

Extensive research on capsaicin reports anti-inflammatory, heart-protective, analgesic and thermogenic effects. Capsaicin in chili peppers continues to be studied for its potential effects on weight loss, cancer and pain relief.

Effects of Chili Pepper Supplements

Increasing your intake of red chili peppers through foods or supplements can help you get more capsaicin in your diet, which can promote a number of physiological responses.
Capsaicin and other capsaicinoids in chili pepper extracts work by agonizing TRPV1 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1); a protein encoded by the TRPV1 gene.

These are receptors found in tissues throughout the body. These receptors appear to be responsible for detecting and regulating temperature.

A 2015 research study concluded that small amounts of capsaicin can activate TRPV1 systemically. Some of the effect associated with TRPV1 activation include:

• Stimulates mucous secretions to clear congestion
• Promote immune function
• Inhibits substance P, an inflammatory neuropeptide
• Reduces pain sensations (anti-nociceptive)
• Increases expression of androgen receptors

Chili pepper extracts have also been shown to help with preventing and healing gastric (stomach) ulcers. It may work by stimulating secretion of alkali which neutralizes acids. Capsaicin inhibits acid release and increases mucosal blood flow in the digestive system.

In in vitro (cultured cells) studies, capsaicin has demonstrated chemopreventive potential, meaning that it hinders or stops the development of cancer. More research is needed to determine if and how capsaicin might affect cancer in humans.

Research also shows that cayenne can improve the body’s ability to break down fibrin – a substance that is required to form blood clots. Population data also suggests that higher intake of foods containing hot peppers is linked to lower incidence of heart attack, stroke and pulmonary embolism.

Chili Pepper Extracts for Weight Loss

Preliminary evidence suggests that capsaicin can promote weight loss by increasing fat metabolism and decreasing appetite.

Obesity and overweightness affects 70.7% of all adults in the United States. Being overweight increases the risks of developing numerous other health disorders and diseases; including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Research from population studies suggests that eating spicy foods is correlated with healthier bodyweights. There are several different mechanisms that are purported to explain this association.

Data from preliminary studies shows that capsaicin in chili powder extract can influence thermogenic activity in the body to raise the basal metabolic rate.

Clinical trials involving women and men show that oral consumption of cayenne can significantly increase heat production and oxygen consumption, two markers which suggest more calories are being burned in the body.

In one study, the dietary supplement Capsimax made with natural capsicum extract was shown to increase resting energy expenditure by 6% following one dose. Other studies have found 10 grams of red chilis effective for enhancing metabolism.

Researchers have also found that capsaicin suppresses the appetite and helps to reduce caloric intake. In one study, 24 human subjects reduced average caloric intake after ingesting capsaicin.

Another way it may work is by influencing how fat it stored in the body. It has been shown to inhibit the maturation of adipocytes, which are the locations in the body where fat molecules are stored.

A research study published in 2016 also reported that capsaicin promotes the browning of white adipose tissue via TRPV1 activation. This mechanism is not yet well understood, but it may lead to the body storing less fat and burning more to produce body heat.

Adding chili pepper extract to your daily diet might help with weight loss when combined with healthy lifestyle habits like eating water-rich foods, managing stress effectively and exercising daily.

However, there is no evidence to suggest that taking a chili pepper supplement alone will induce long-term weight loss or healthy weight management. Also, tolerance to capsaicin may develop with chronic usage, limiting its effectiveness.

Chili Pepper Extract for Pain

Some people believe chili peppers cause damage to the body, which is why they promote a burning sensation. This is not the case.

No real tissue damage occurs from contact with capsaicin. This compound simply activates nerve endings that send pain signals to the brain. While chili peppers do not damage cells or tissues, they do appear to trick the body into thinking that damage has occurred.

This is believed to cause the body to respond by releasing endorphins and other beneficial substances that promote healing and pain-relief.

Chili pepper extracts bind with pain receptors in the body and temporarily cause burning/stinging sensations. However, long-term use may desensitize pain receptors by depleting Substance P levels.

Substance P is a neuropeptide that serves as both a neurotransmitter and a neuromodulator. It is released from sensory nerves and is associated primarily with pain and inflammation.

Research shows that chronic use of a topical capsaicin cream for pain may desensitize pain receptors. These effects seem to naturally reverse after about two days of discontinuing usage.

Capsaicin is an FDA-approved ingredient in topical skin creams intended for pain relief. These creams have been shown to reduce pain associated with diabetic neuropathy, arthritis, neuralgia after surgeries and psoriasis.

Chili peppers may also reduce pain sensations when taken orally. Eating these peppers or using supplements is reported to reduce minor aches and joint pain as well as improving stomach pain.

Chili peppers are often used for dyspepsia or indigestion as well as heartburn caused by acid reflux. One 5-week human study reported improved dyspepsia symptoms when treatment subjects consumed 2.5 grams of red chili peppers each day.

In a different study, 3-gram doses of red chilis daily for 6 weeks also improved dyspepsia in acid reflux sufferers.

Chili Pepper Extract Side Effects

Chili peppers are not associated with serious side effects when used within standard dosage ranges. Chilis are GRAS foods and considered safe for most people in appropriate amounts.

Medicinal use of chili pepper supplements is rated Possibly Safe when taken for short periods of time in appropriate dosages. However, using high doses or taking these supplements for longer durations is rated Possibly Unsafe.

Some people experience bloating, flatulence, nausea and/or diarrhea after using a chili pepper extract supplement. Others experience burning and stinging sensations when they use topical capsaicin creams for pain.

Not everyone is able to tolerate spicy foods prepared with red chili peppers. If you are sensitive to hot foods, you may want to look into controlled-release cayenne extract supplements which protect the stomach from the irritant effects of capsaicin.

Studies in rats suggest that excessive intake of chili powder could increase the risk for stomach cancer. This has not been demonstrated in humans and the amount of chili extract used in these studies was significantly higher than what is typically consumed in the diet.

It is possible for chili pepper extracts to interact with certain medications and herbal supplements. Be careful if combining this supplement with antiplatelet, anticoagulant and/or antidiabetic drugs. Also use caution if using with an ACE inhibitor.

Some herbs that can increase the risk for bleeding when used with capsaicin include ginger, dashen, turmeric, ginseng and fenugreek.

If you are considering using a chili pepper extract for any purpose, it is best to discuss it with a doctor first. Be sure to discusses all pre-existing health conditions with your doctor, and any herbal supplements and medications you use.

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