Most people recognize capsaicin as the substance responsible for the burning sensation when you eat hot peppers. 

Intriguingly, it’s also available as a supplement and associated with several health benefits, including weight loss.

What is capsaicin?

Capsaicin is a compound found in chili peppers that gives them their spicy kick.

The highest concentration occurs in the seeds, making them significantly spicier than the flesh.

When consumed, foods containing this substance stimulate pain receptors in your tongue, causing the sensation of heat that most people experience (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source).

Some people are more sensitive to capsaicin than others, which is usually related to how often they eat spicy foods. Your tongue adjusts to the sensation over time (3).

The heat of a given pepper can be measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHUs), which range from 0 to 15 million. For example, jalapeños measure about 2,500–8,000 SHUs, whereas habanero peppers hit 100,000–350,000 SHUs. 

Capsaicin supplements are typically derived from cayenne peppers.

These supplements also commonly use SHUs to measure potency. The typical range is 40,000–100,000, though because they’re encapsulated, you don’t experience the same heat as when you eat hot peppers.

SUMMARY

Capsaicin is a compound in hot peppers that causes a burning sensation when consumed. It’s likewise taken as a supplement.

Potential benefits

Capsaicin stimulates your senses and is linked to several health benefits. 

May aid weight loss

Capsaicin’s most popular benefit is its potential to support weight or fat loss. 

Your weight is highly dependent upon your metabolism, which is the process of breaking down what you eat and drink into energy for your body to use in its everyday functions (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).

Capsaicin supplements may boost your metabolism, enabling you to more easily lose weight and burn fat (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).

Capsaicin works by increasing oxygen consumption and body temperature, which leads to a slight increase in calories burned (9Trusted Source). 

Studies show that consuming this compound on a regular basis may promote a calorie deficit and aid fat burning. A calorie deficit, which is generally required for weight loss, means that you burn more calories than you consume (7, 10, 11Trusted Source). 

In addition, a 12-week study in 80 people with a slightly elevated body mass index (BMI) tied supplementing with 6 mg of capsaicin daily to a reduction in belly fat (12Trusted Source). 

Capsaicin also appears to have an appetite-suppressing effect, which may help you cut your calorie intake throughout the day (13Trusted Source).

Keep in mind that capsaicin’s results are likely minimal unless paired with a proper diet and exercise regimen.

May help reduce inflammation

Capsaicin supplements may have anti-inflammatory properties.

Foods that contain high amounts of antioxidants, such as hot peppers, may combat free radicals in your body. Free radicals promote chronic inflammation, which may increase your risk of conditions like cancer, autoimmune disorders, and heart disease (14Trusted Source).

Thus, capsaicin supplements may lower your risk of these ailments. 

While fresh peppers boast more antioxidants, the dried supplement form contains a fair amount (15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source).

Results based on data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Study (NHANES) linked hot pepper intake to a reduced risk of early death. This may be due in part to their high antioxidant content (18Trusted Source).

What’s more, diets high in inflammation-reducing antioxidants have been associated with a lower risk of illnesses, especially heart disease, stroke, and specific cancers (19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source).

May relieve pain

Capsaicin is sometimes used for pain management. It works by stimulating pain receptors, which in turn reduce your sensitivity to pain (21Trusted Source). 

It’s most commonly incorporated into topical pain-relief creams, including Menthacin, Zostrix, and Capzacin-Z (22Trusted Source).

These products are used for joint disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, as well as diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage in people with diabetes that can cause pain (21Trusted Source, 22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source).

Note that, when applied to your skin, capsaicin may produce burning effects similar to those caused by eating it. Thus, you may want to start with small amounts and pay attention to any adverse reactions.

SUMMARY

Capsaicin supplements may promote weight loss and reduce inflammation. When applied topically, this compound may relieve pain. 

Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/capsaicin-supplement