Tuesday May 27, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking a dietary supplement called capsaicin-chitosan microspheres may help weight loss, according to an animal study in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry.

The study shows the capsaicin-chitosan microsphere was more effective as a weight loss supplement in obese rats than capsaicin, chitosan and Orlistat.    Orlistat is a diet pill that is indicated for weight loss or weight management.

Chitosan and capsaicin are two kinds of known effective ingredients for weight loss with the former extracted from crab shells and the latter extracted from Capsicum annuum. 

Researchers proposed that the capsaicin-chitosan microsphere prepared by ion-cross-linking and spray drying is more effective in helping weight loss than capsaicin or chitosan alone.

The capsaicin-chitosan microsphere was found to have a better control over "body weight, body mass index, organ index, body fat, proportion of fat to body weight, and serum lipids," compared with chitosan microspheres, CAP, and Orlistat.

The researchers also found the supplement "upregulated the expressions of PPARα, PPARγ, UCP2, and adiponectin and downregulated the expression of leptin."

They concluded "CCMSs (capsaicin-chitosan microsphere) may thus be considered novel, safe, effective, and natural weight loss substances, and there is an additive effect between CTMS and capsaicin."

The most popular weight loss pills right now are garcinia cambogia, green coffee beans, and raspberry ketones.

Reference

Tan S, Gao B, Tao Y, Guo J, Su ZQ., Antiobese effects of capsaicin-chitosan microsphere (CCMS) in obese rats induced by high fat diet.  Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,  2014 Feb 26;62(8):1866-74. doi: 10.1021/jf4040628. Epub 2014 Feb 14.