Akay Group’s latest study has found Capsifen – its red chili extract capsaicinoids ingredient – to have 19 fold enhanced bioavailability compared to normal capsaicinoids, without pungency discomforts. This is due to its beadlet format, composed of microbeads enrobed in fenugreek dietary fiber.

The study also found Capsifen to be safe for gastric mucosa in an irritation test and demonstrated its “significant” anti-obesity effect in high fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats.

The microbead format enables nutraceutical manufacturers to formulate with capsaicinoids, a feat previously challenging due to their burning and stinging effect when orally consumed. 

“If capsaicinoids are ingested in excess, it may produce damage to the inner linings of the gastrointestinal tract leading to abdominal pain, acidity, nausea and palpitations,” explains chief research officer at Akay, Dr. Krishnakumar IM.

“We applied our Fenumat technology to pungent red chili extracts with a view to develop pungency-masked, food-grade microbeadlets (Capsifen) for sustained-intestinal delivery with enhanced bioavailability.”

Capsifen is produced using Akay’s Fenumat technology.
The resulting Capsifen beadlets are stable, amorphous, directly compressible and free-flowing microbeads, which “can even be put directly on the tongue.” 

The ingredient is particularly relevant for weight management supplement brands, which are looking to formulate with natural and vegan claims. The ingredient can be positioned as a pre-workout agent that helps burn calories naturally without gastrointestinal discomforts. 

Harnessing chili’s power
Akay Group's Spiceuticals division notes that consumers are aware of the potential health benefits of red chili peppers, with various studies having demonstrated the benefits of capsaicinoids. 

For instance, capsaicinoids reduce adiposity by enhancing energy expenditure and fat metabolism through increased catecholamine secretion, the company supports. 

Properties like thermogenesis, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate oxidation and reduction in the cumulative ad libitum energy and food intake make them novel for weight management and energy burning, claims Akay.  

Capsaicinoids’ poor bioavailability can lead to high dosages and increased gastrointestinal irritation.Under conditions of obesity, capsaicin inhibits adipokine release and macrophage activation to release pro-inflammatory mediators. Capsaicin has also been shown to offer protection and pain relief (analgesic) against a variety of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, including arthritis and nerve damage, adds the company.  

However, capsaicinoids have poor bioavailability, leading to high dosages, which in turn can lead to unfavorable organoleptic properties – such as pungency, bitterness and aroma. High amounts of pure capsaicinoids can also lead to heartburn, borborygmus, vomiting, stomach irritation, gastritis, abdominal pain and ulceration. 

Investigating the ingredient 
In the study, the researchers used uniform microbeads (250 to 400 µm) containing not less than 2 or 3 percent capsaicinoids content from Akay Natural Ingredients, a division of Akay Group. 

Swelling studies, in vitro release kinetics and particle size analysis indicated the sustained-intestinal delivery of soluble capsaicinoids of about 100 ± 10 nm for better absorption, without pungency discomforts.

Further pharmacokinetic studies on Wistar rats revealed enhanced bioavailability (19 fold) of Capsifen compared with that of unformulated capsaicinoids. Capsifen was safe upon gastric mucosa irritation test and demonstrated a significant anti-obesity effect in high fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats.

In its next area of research, Capsifen will be investigated for its impact on thermogenesis. The initial results are “encouraging,” adds Emmanuel Nambusseril, Chief Marketing officer at Akay. Human safety, tolerance and efficacy studies of Capsifen have already been published.