Red Hot Peppers and Weight Management

Published: 26-Feb-2015

Key to effective weight management is a combination of exercise, eating right and choosing supplements that close an individual’s dietary gaps.

The key to effective weight management is a combination of exercise, eating right and choosing supplements that close an individual’s dietary gaps and provide the additional support they need to complement and sustain a healthy, active lifestyle.

It is difficult for consumers to know which supplement is right for them, but a first is finding a product containing a non-stimulant, natural source. Capsicum—a.k.a., red hot peppers—is a natural, stimulant-free option which has been part of the human diet for thousands of years, since around 7500BC. Their use in the western-world has grown significantly over the last 10 years—heat has become hot as more individuals use hot sauce or hot peppers in their daily diets.

How do they work?

Capsaicinoids, upon absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, reach the brain and stimulate the sympathetic nervous system to secrete epinephrine and nor-epinephrine. These hormones signal glycogenolysis in the liver, resulting in the release of glucose into the blood. In white adipose tissue, nor-epinephrine enhances the activity of hormone sensitive lipase, resulting in lipolysis, or the breakdown of fat into free fatty acids (FFAs) and glycerol.

Glucose and FFAs are picked up by peripheral muscle tissues where they are metabolised to produce high energy protons. Normally, these high energy protons generate ATP from ADP. However, the production of FFAs causes an increase in concentration of uncoupling protein, which convert high-energy protons into heat. This process, referred to as thermogenesis,  increases energy expenditure and may impact overall metabolism (Kawada, et al 1988, Iwai et al, 2003).

The organoleptic and formulating issues

On average, one would need to ingest 10g daily of red hot peppers to gain the benefits associated with capsaicinoids.
Unfortunately, red hot pepper consumption at 10g daily for health benefits is unbearably hot, and can cause severe irritation to the GI tract. Unprotected capsicum extract is also difficult to handle in formulations and production, as airborne particles cause irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory system and may lead to cross-contamination during the formulating and manufacturing processes.

The groundbreaking solution

Natural, stimulant-free Capsimax Capsicum Extract employs OmniBead Beadlet Technology to encapsulate the beneficial heat of concentrated highly active, natural capsicum in a controlled-release coating, delivering effective levels of capsaicinoids without the oral and gastric burning sensation of unprotected red hot peppers. Just 2mg capsaicinoids from proprietary Capsimax delivers health benefits. Capsimax helps promote lipolysis and supports the mobilisation of fats for energy production, two keys to healthy weight management regime.

Science surrounding Capsimax

Capsimax has been studied in several human clinical trials, all conducted within the US. The safety of Capsimax has been established and it appears to be well tolerated. One trial assessed the impact of a supplement containing Capsimax, black pepper extract and caffeine on energy expenditure before, during and after exercise in healthy, normal weight individuals.

The Capsimax-containing supplement resulted in an energy expenditure that exceeded that of placebo by approximately 200kcal (Ryan et al, 2009). The impact of 2mg capsaicinoids from Capsimax on lipolysis was assessed in a study by Bloomer. Capsimax increased circulating free fatty acids and glycerol in healthy, normal weight men and women during a four hour post ingestion period as compared to placebo (Bloomer et al, 2010). Another trial assessed the impact of a supplement containing Capsimax, raspberry ketones, caffeine, garlic, ginger and citrus aurantium on anthropometric variables. The Capsimax supplement significantly decreased circumference and body fat percentage compared to placebo (Lopez et al, 2013). In addition, study participants perceived an increase in energy with this Capsimax supplement.

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