Capsicum extract may boost resting energy expenditure: RCT

Resting energy expenditure increased by an average 6% after a single dose of the capsaicinoid supplement, compared to placebo, according to findings published in Advances in Nutrition​​.

“Help to maintain a healthy weight”​

Lynda Doyle, VP of global sales and marketing, told NutraIngredients-USA: “Up to 60% of the calories burned each day is attributed to resting energy expenditure (REE) – the amount of calories needed while at rest. Therefore, REE plays a key role in energy balance and weight management. So, when REE slows (due to dieting, loss of muscle mass, advancing age) weight management can become progressively more difficult. ​

“The subjects in this study realized a significantly greater resting energy expenditure over that of placebo—meaning that, at rest, supplementation with capsaicinoids increased the caloric requirement for the study participants over 24 hours. Specifically, this study shows that capsaicinoids found in Capsimax significantly increased REE 6% over a period of several hours to burn approximately 100 additional calories each day*. ​

“To put this into perspective, over the course of one month, taking 100 mg of Capsimax per day can help your body burn approximately 3,000 additional calories. For the general population, this increase in REE relates to increased calories burned in a negative or neutral caloric balance which may help in maintaining a healthy weight,”​ said Doyle. 

Capsimax​

Capsimax capsicum extract is derived from the capsicum pepper and delivers effective levels of capsaicinoids without the oral and gastric burning sensation of unprotected red hot peppers. Capsimax is manufactured using OmniBead Beadlet Technology to encapsulate the beneficial heat of concentrated, highly-active natural capsicum in a controlled release coating. Capsaicinoids are backed by more than 90 human clinical studies, and Capsimax supports the mobilization of fats for energy production and as such can support health weight management.

Data presented at Experimental Biology 2016 indicated that Capsimax Capsicum Extract may be beneficial for decreasing measures of appetite, which can support weight management. The double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study included 77 healthy men and women randomly assigned ingest either 2mg or 4mg of Capsimax, or a placebo (The FASEB Journal​,​ Vol. 30, Supp lb356).

The new single-blind, acute, placebo-controlled, crossover open-label study by scientists from OmniActive Health Technologies and Arizona State University looked at resting energy expenditure (REE) in 40 men and women with an average age of 28. Participants consumed either placebo or 2 mg capsaicinoid supplement (100 mg Capsimax; OmniActive).

Metabolic rates were measured by “indirect calorimetry” using a portable device called Breezing​.

Increased REE​

The results showed that participants in the Capsimax group had a REE energy expenditure that was 6% higher than in the placebo group, and this reached statistical significance.

On the other hand, no significant differences between the groups were recorded for blood pressure or heart rate.

“These findings indicate that the capsaicinoid supplement increased REE,” ​wrote the researchers. “Further long-term studies are required to explore use of the Breezing metabolic tracker in nutritional studies for weight management.”​

Source: Advances in Nutrition​​
January 2017, Volume 8: 5
“Capsaicinoids Enhance Metabolic Rate Using a Novel Metabolic Tracker Breezing Device: An Open-Label Study”​
Authors: Y. Deng et al.

* Individual REE varies and numbers presented here are approximate values based on result from the study subjects.