Effects of phenylcapsaicin on aerobic capacity and physiological parameters in active young males: a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial

  • Front Physiol. 2023 May 9:14:1190345. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1190345.
Pablo Jiménez-Martínez  1  2  3 ,  Carlos Alix-Fages  1  2  3  4 ,  Danica Janicijevic  5  6 ,  Sergio Miras-Moreno  7 ,  Sara Chacón-Ventura  7 ,  Juan J Martín-Olmedo  2  8 ,  Juan Carlos De La Cruz-Márquez  7 ,  Francisco J Osuna-Prieto  8  9 ,  Lucas Jurado-Fasoli  8 ,  Francisco J Amaro-Gahete  8 ,  Amador García-Ramos  7  10 ,  Juan C Colado  1
Affiliations
  • 1. Research Group in Prevention and Health in Exercise and Sport (PHES), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
  • 2. Life Pro Nutrition Research Center, INDIEX, Madrid, Spain.
  • 3. ICEN Institute, Madrid, Spain.
  • 4. Applied Biomechanics and Sport Technology Research Group, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
  • 5. Research Academy of Human Biomechanics, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
  • 6. Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
  • 7. Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
  • 8. Department of Physical and Sports Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
  • 9. Research Institute in Health Pere Virgili, University Hospital of Tarragona Joan XXIII, Tarragona, Spain.
  • 10. Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Conditioning, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
PMID: 37228817 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1190345
Abstract

Objective: Phenylcapsaicin (PC) is a new capsaicin analog which has exhibited a higher bioavailability. This sudy assessed the effects of a low dose (LD) of 0.625 mg and a high dose (HD) of 2.5 mg of PC on aerobic capacity, substrate oxidation, energy metabolism and exercise physiological variables in young males. Materials and methods: Seventeen active males (age = 24.7 ± 6.0 years) enrolled to this randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Participants attended the laboratory on 4 sessions separated by 72-96 h. A submaximal exercise test [to determine maximal fat oxidation (MFO) and the intensity at MFO (FATmax)] followed by a maximal incremental test (to determine VO2max) were performed in a preliminary session. The subsequent sessions only differed in the supplement ingested [LD, HD or placebo (PLA)] and consisted of a steady-state test (60 min at FATmax) followed by a maximal incremental test. Energy metabolism, substrate oxidation, heart rate, general (gRPE) and quadriceps (RPEquad) rate of perceived exertion, skin temperature and thermal perception were tested. Results: Clavicle thermal perception was lower in HD compared to PLA and LD (p = 0.04) across time. HD reduced maximum heart rate in comparison to PLA and LD (p = 0.03). LD reported higher general RPE (RPEg) values during the steady-state test compared to PLA and HD across time (p = 0.02). HD and LD elicited higher peak of fat oxidation during the steady-state test compared with PLA (p = 0.05). Intra-test analyses revealed significant differences for fat oxidation (FATox) in favor of HD and LD compared to PLA (p = 0.002 and 0.002, respectively), and for carbohydrate oxidation (CHOox) (p = 0.05) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) (p = 0.03) for PLA. In the incremental test, only general RPE at 60% of the maximal intensity (W) differed favoring HD (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Therefore, PC may contribute to increase aerobic capacity through the improvement of fat oxidation, maximum heart rate and perceptual responses during exercise.

Keywords
ergogenic aid; exercise capacity; exercise metabolism; phenylcapsaicin; substrate oxidation.
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