CHILI PEPPER AND HYPERTENSION
published on 15/03/2024
Chili peppers are one of the most widely used spices in the world, with consumption varying significantly from region to region. For example, in Asia, the actual consumption of chili peppers is significantly higher than in Europe. An interesting fact is that about one third of adults in China consume spicy food daily.
Recent studies conducted in both China and the United States have highlighted that regular consumers of chili peppers have a lower risk of mortality compared to non-consumers. This has raised growing interest in the potential health benefits of chili peppers and their active component, capsaicin.
Capsaicin has been the subject of numerous studies suggesting a range of health benefits, including reducing obesity, better management of rhinitis, and even increasing muscle strength. However, one of the most interesting aspects is its potential ability to prevent hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
Animal studies have shown that capsaicin could act through the activation of the TRPV1 receptor, which may inhibit oxidative stress in blood vessels, increase urinary sodium excretion, and improve nitric oxide production. Additionally, it has been shown to reduce hypertriglyceridemia and improve endothelium-dependent relaxation, providing multiple mechanisms of cardiovascular protection.
An interesting pilot study has shown that the intake of capsaicin and isoflavones reduces blood pressure in hypertensive individuals, suggesting a potential role in hypertension management.
One of the most interesting findings comes from the Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey, which found a connection between chili pepper consumption and a reduced risk of overweight and obesity. Since obesity is a major risk factor for hypertension, this suggests that chili pepper consumption could directly or indirectly reduce the risk of hypertension.
Despite these promising results, there are still many questions to be answered. For example, it is not clear how exactly chili peppers influence blood pressure and what mechanisms are involved, but chili peppers could represent a simple and cost-effective dietary supplement for the prevention of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
References for further reading:
Shi Z, Riley M, Brown A, Page A. Chilli intake is inversely associated with hypertension among adults. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2018 Feb;23:67-72. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2017.12.007. Epub 2017 Dec 26. PMID: 29460816.
