Capsaicin enhances the serum level of glucose by the increased absorption and increased glucagon release during glucose loading test in human healthy subjects

Background: The capsaicin modifies afferent nerves due to in rats and human healthy subjects.

Aim: To study of capsaicin in (in doses of 400µg ED50 value) on the glucose regulation (by insulin, C-peptide, glucagon) during glucose loading test (75g given orally) in human healthy subjects.

Materials and methods: Glucose loading test (75g given orally) was carried out in 14 healthy subjects (40±6 years, mean±SD) without and with (400µg given). The serum level of glucose (enzymatically, Boehringer, Manheim, Germany), insulin (Biochem Immuno System), C-peptide and glucagon (Byk-Sangtec Diagn. GmbH) at 0–5-30–45–60–75–90–105–120–135–150–165–180–195–210–225 and 240min. after administration of glucose.

Results: 1.) The serum level of glucose was significantly higher after capsaicin administration from time period of 30–180min.; 2.) The serum level of glucagon significantly increase at 60min. after starting the glucose loading test, however, no significant changes were obtained in the serum levels of insulin and C-peptide.

Conclusions: 1.) Capsaicin enhances the absorption in time period of 0–1h; enhances the glucagon release from 1–2 hour; and the glucagon mobilization 2,5–3h; 2.) Capsaicin modifies the serum level of glucose by the pathways of its increased absorption and increased glucagon released; 3.) The capsaicin effect can be separated in time on the glucose absorption (before 1h glucagon regulation 1–2h) and glucagon mobilization from the liver (2,5–3h); This study was supported by the grant of Hungarian Research Found (OTKA T047126.