Capsinoids May Help Fight Obesity

TOKYOCapsinoids, the active components in chile, may help control obesity by increasing energy expenditure, especially in people with a high level of activity in brown adipose tissue. The research, by Ajinomoto Co., Inc. and a group led by professor Masayuki Saito of Tenshi College in Sapporo, Japan, was presented at the XI International Congress on Obesity 2010 on July 13 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Brown adipose tissue in humans and several types of animals is mainly located around the neck and large blood vessels of the thorax. Fat is broken down in the mitochondria of brown adipose tissue cells to generate body heat. Previous research with animals has shown that brown adipose tissue is involved in the regulation of energy expenditure and changes in body-fat levels.

Capsinoids have been shown to increase energy expenditure, so the purpose of the research was to examine whether activation of brown adipose tissue has a role in this effect. The researchers  measured energy expenditure in 18 men after a single 9 mg ingestion of capsinoids, or a single ingestion of a placebo, and the two results were compared. Based on PET imaging, the test subjects were divided into those with a high level of brown adipose tissue activity (10 people) and those with a low level of activity (8 people). Capsinoids effect on energy expenditure was then compared in the two groups.

Results showed that energy expenditure was greater after ingestion of capsinoids than a placebo among 18 people. In addition, the increase was greater in the 10-person group with a higher degree of brown adipose tissue activity. The suggestion is that the activation of brown adipose tissue is involved in the effect of increased energy expenditure after capsinoids are ingested.

Ajinomoto plans to continue its research to confirm the hypothesis that repeated ingestion of capsinoids may further activate brown adipose tissue.