The Effect of Red Pepper and Capsaicinon Gastric Emptying

Na, Sang Kyu; Park, Hyo Jin; Jung, Dae Ho; Kim, Jung Ho; Kim, Ki Whang; Lee, Song Mi; Yoon, Sun; Lee, Sang In; Park, In Suh

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Capsaicin stimulates the release of several neuropeptides and has diverse effects on gastrointestinal function. We investigated the effect of intragastric red pepper or capsaicin on the gastric emptying in human.
METHODS
Fourteen healthy male volunteers were recruited. Gastric emptying was assessed by radio-opaque markers (ROMs) method and plasma acetaminophen (AAP) levels.
RESULTS
The clearance of ROMs at 2 hours and 3 hours was 10.6 +/-15.9 and 73.1 +/-34.6% after administration of placebo, 17.6 +/-26.0 and 78.7 +/-40.2% after administration of red pepper 3 g 27.8 +/-34.0 and 73.2 +/-31.9% after administration of red pepper 6 g, 2.1 +/-5.1 and 15.5 +/-20.7% afte administration of capsaicin 17.3 mg. Capsaicin significantly delayed the gastric emptying of ROMs The serum AAP concentrations were measured at 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 min after administration o placebo (4.09 +/-3.45, 8.09 +/-4.13, 13.55 +/-4.90, 15.50 +/-3.44 and 13.0 +/-7.53 microgram/ml), red pepper 3 g (5.63 +/-4.84, 8.88 +/-4.76, 14.25 +/-5.01, 15.11 +/-5.16 and 16.80 +/-6.57 microgram/ml), red pepper 6 g (7.0 +/- 7.19, 8.09 +/-5.63, 12.09 +/-6.04, 13.73 +/-4.65 and 14.28 +/-3.77 microgram/ml), capsaicin 17.3 mg (4.50 +/-2.88 , 7.17 +/-3.19, 11.50 +/-4.76, 11.17 +/-3.71 and 13.33 +/-3.72 microgram/ml). Intragastric red pepper or capsaicin made no significant difference of serum acetaminophen level from placebo.
CONCLUSIONS
Intragastric administration of capsaicin delayed gastric emptying of indigestible solid meal, whereas red pepper did not. The gastric emptying of liquid meal was affected by neither capsaicin nor red pepper.