Background: Thermogenic ingredients may play a role in weight management. In vitro and rodent work suggests that components of black pepper may impact energy expenditure, and in humans, other TPRV1 agonists e.g. capsaicin, augment EE.
Objectives:To determine the impact of BP on 24-hour EE, respiratory quotient, and biochemical markers of metabolism and satiety, a randomized, controlled, cross-over study of black pepper (0.5mg/meal) versus no pepper control was conducted in post-menopausal women. Subjects spent two 24-hour periods in a whole room indirect calorimeter.Results: Post-meal glucose, insulin, gut peptides and catecholamines were measured. Energy expenditure, respiratory quotient, or biochemical markers assessed did not differ significantly between the black pepper and no pepper control study days.
Conclusions:Our findings do not support a role for black pepper in modulating energy expenditure in overweight postmenopausal women. Future work targeting alternative populations, administering black pepper in the fasted state, or in combination with other spices, may reveal the thermogenic effect of this spice.
Trial registration: This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01729143).Key words: Black pepper, piperine, energy expenditure, metabolic chamber Several functional ingredients have been demonstrated to increase energy expenditure (EE) [1]. Of the bioactive spices, the thermogenic and satiating properties of capsaicin, the major pungent principle in hot red pepper (RP), have been studied in some detail [2][3]. Capsaicinmediated activation of the human vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) leading to increased catecholamine secretion and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation, is the suggested thermogenic-enhancing mechanism [1]. However, issues surrounding compliance with longerterm capsaicin and hot RP intake in Western populations [4] raises questions about the ingredient's realistic role in weight management.Piperine (1-peperoylpiperidine), the alkaloid contributing to the pungency of black pepper (BP), is also a TRPV1 agonist, and although less potent, showed greater efficacy at TRPV1 than capsaicin [5]. Evidence of increased catecholamine secretion in rats fed piperine [6], represents a plausible mechanism by which piperine may increase EE. Piperine has also been shown to influence gastric emptying and transit time in rodents [7][8] and piperine suppressed adiposity in mice without changing caloric intake [9].Based on this positive cell and animal data, as well as the thermogenic capacity of other TRPV1 agonists, our objective was to test the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with BP would increase 24-hour EE. The study was limited to overweight post-menopausal women, an at risk group in need of targeted dietary guidance.