Volume 90, Issue 3, September (2003), pp. 651-660 © The Author 2003
doi:10.1079/BJN2003938

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Effect of capsaicin on substrate oxidation and weight maintenance after modest body-weight loss in human subjects

Manuela P. G. M. Lejeune¹, Eva M. R. Kovacs¹, Margriet S. Westerterp-Plantenga^1
1Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, P. O. Box 616, NL-6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands

 (Received 12 August 2002–Revised 24 March 2003–Accepted 13 May 2003)

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether capsaicin assists weight maintenance by limiting weight regain after weight loss of 5 to 10 %. In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, ninety-one moderately overweight subjects were randomly assigned to an intensive group that underwent all the measurements, and an extensive group that underwent the same measurements except the metabolism measurements. After a 4-week very-low-energy diet (VLED) intervention, a 3-month weight-maintenance period followed. During weight maintenance, subjects were divided into a capsaicin (135 mg capsaicin/d) and a placebo group. Body mass was measured before and after the VLED and after 1, 2 and 3 months of weight maintenance. The mean body-mass loss during the VLED was 6·6 (sd 2·0) kg (7·8 (sd 1·8) % initial body mass), and was not different between the subsequent treatment and placebo group. During weight maintenance, mean % regain during treatment was not significantly different compared with placebo (33·3 (sd 35·7) v. 19·2 (sd 41·8) %, P=0·09). RQ was significantly less increased during weight maintenance in the treatment group compared with placebo (0·04 (sd 0·06) v. 0·07 (sd 0·05), P<0·05), indicating a relatively more sustained fat oxidation. Fat oxidation (g/h) after weight maintenance was higher in the capsaicin group compared with placebo (4·2 (sd 1·1) v. 3·5 (sd 0·9), P<0·05). These results indicate that capsaicin treatment caused sustained fat oxidation during weight maintenance compared with placebo. However, capsaicin treatment has no limiting effect on 3-month weight regain after modest weight loss.

Keywords:
Appetite, Energy expenditure, Fat oxidation

Abbreviations:
EE, energy expenditure, FFM, fat-free mass, FM, fat mass, NEFA, non-esterified fatty acid, TFEQ, three-factor eating questionnaire