Capsaicin-Related Compounds and Exercise Performance in Resistance and High-Intensity Exercise: A Narrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.76.75461Keywords
capsaicin, phenylcapsaicin, TRPV1, ergogenic aids, perceived exertion, recoveryAbstract
Background. Capsaicin-related compounds, including capsaicin, capsinoids/capsiate, dihydrocapsiate and phenylcapsaicin, are investigated as potential TRPV1-related ergogenic aids, but human exercise evidence remains heterogeneous.
Objective. This structured narrative review summarizes human evidence on capsaicin-related compounds in resistance and high-intensity exercise, focusing on performance, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), fatigue, recovery, delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and selected physiological or neuromuscular outcomes.
Methods. A structured PubMed search was supplemented by targeted compound-specific queries. After deduplication and search refinement, 62 unique records were screened by title and abstract. Human studies of oral supplementation in resistance, high-intensity, sprint, intermittent, CrossFit-type and recovery-related exercise contexts were prioritized.
Findings. Current evidence suggests protocol-specific rather than universal ergogenic effects. Capsaicin showed selected benefits in small male crossover trials involving resistance exercise and high-intensity intermittent exercise, but not in repeated sprinting or continuous high-intensity running. Capsiate and dihydrocapsiate showed mixed findings, with no clear dose-response pattern. Phenylcapsaicin showed preliminary benefits for selected squat, jump, mechanical-performance and soreness-related outcomes, but not consistently for RPE, metabolic markers or whole-session CrossFit Workout-of-the-Day performance.
Conclusions. Capsaicin-related compounds may have compound- and protocol-specific ergogenic potential, particularly in selected resistance and intermittent high-intensity settings. However, current evidence is limited by small samples, heterogeneous protocols, inconsistent outcomes and limited independent replication. Larger, well-controlled trials are needed before firm practical recommendations can be made.
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