Capsaicin

Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements for Treating Hair Loss: A Systematic Review.

Drake L, Reyes-Hadsall S, Martinez J, Heinrich C, Huang K, Mostaghimi A · JAMA dermatology · 2023

Despite the widespread use of nutritional supplements and dietary interventions for treating hair loss, the safety and effectiveness of available products remain unclear. To evaluate and compile the findings of all dietary and nutritional interventions for treatment of hair loss among individuals without a known baseline nutritional deficiency. The MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL databases were searched from inception through October 20, 2021, to identify articles written in English with original findings from investigations of dietary and nutritional interventions in individuals with alopecia or hair loss without a known baseline nutritional deficiency. Quality was assessed with Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine criteria. Outcomes of interest were disease course, both objectively and subjectively measured. Data were evaluated from January 3 to 11, 2022. The database searches yielded 6347 citations to which 11 articles from reference lists were added. Of this total, 30 articles

Efficacy of Capsaicin for Non-allergic Rhinitis: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Wang J, Zhang L, Zheng K · Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology · 2024

Non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) is a prevalent condition with limited effective treatments. Capsaicin, an agonist of the transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily 1 (TRPV1) receptor, has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for NAR by targeting heightened nasal reactivity. This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered on PROSPERO, evaluated the efficacy of capsaicin for NAR treatment. Nine studies with placebo-controlled group were included, with primary outcomes assessed as total nasal symptom scores (TNSS), visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and the proportion of therapeutic responders. Meta-analysis revealed significant improvements in TNSS and VAS scores, along with a higher proportion of therapeutic responders in patients receiving capsaicin treatment compared to placebo. While some studies demonstrated reductions in substance P levels and TRPV1 expression after capsaicin treatment, further investigation is warranted

Herbal medicines for osteoarthritis.

Drug and therapeutics bulletin · 2012

Osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of pain and disability. In the UK, up to 8.5 million people are affected by joint pain that may be attributed to the condition. Non-surgical treatment options include lifestyle measures (e.g. exercise); local therapy involving heat or cold; manual therapy; transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS); topical capsaicin; simple analgesics; NSAIDs; opioids; and intra-articular corticosteroid injections. Studies have reported widespread use of complementary and alternative therapies such as herbal medicines by patients with arthritis. Here we review the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines for symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Symptom Perception in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia: Involvement of the TRPV-1 Neuropeptide Pathway

n=70 · NCT02522000 · UNKNOWN · UNKNOWN

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a heterogeneous disorder with multifactorial pathophysiology. Patients with FD have visceral hypersensitivity to mechanical and chemical stimuli. Several previous studies have described an increased chemosensitivity to oral capsaicin ingestion. Capsaicin is a natural agonist of TRPV-1 receptors present on afferent sensory neurons. Activation of the TRPV-1 receptor by capsaicin or other agonists results in the release of several neuropeptides (i.e. substance P, somatostatin). Besides, increased duodenal permeability and disruption of tight junction structure in FD patients compared to healthy volunteers has been reported in a recent study. In this observational study investigators will evaluate the role of the TRPV-1 neuropeptide pathway in patients with functional dyspepsia and healthy controls.

Stimulation of Sensation and Improvement in Swallowing Using Oral Capsaicin

n=19 · NCT01053286 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED

This is a research study to learn more about whether capsaicin, a natural ingredient of chili peppers that makes them taste "hot", can improve swallowing function. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether sucking on a capsaicin lozenge improves sensation in the throat enough to improve swallowing function.

Spinal and Supra-Spinal Pain Mechanisms in Patients With Fibromyalgia

n=55 · NCT03464292 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED

Fibromyalgia (FM) patients have increased windup (WU). However, WU of FM patients is only quantitatively but not qualitatively different from healthy controls (HC). Thus WU abnormalities of FM patients could be the result of supra-spinal and not the result of spinal pain mechanisms. The study team will test this hypothesis by sensitizing FM patients with topical capsaicin.