Capsaicin Energy Expenditure and Glucose Metabolism

Participants will be recruited by posters distributed on campus bulletin boards and asked to
contact the investigator by phone or e-mail. Participants will complete a screening
questionnaire by phone to determine eligibility. Once they pass the screening, they will be
invited to the laboratory to sign the consent form, which will be administered by Rafia Virk.
They will also be given a demographic survey. The survey will inquire about height, weight,
medical conditions, medications and inclusion/exclusion criteria and availability. This
survey will be used for screening purposes only and will not contribute to the research data.
The survey is included in this application and inclusion and exclusion criteria are outlined.
If participants are determined eligible, they will be contacted to set up with two study
visits, pre-test instructions will be provided.

*For both appointments, participants will arrive to the test location after a 12-hour fast.

Appointment 1: Participants will arrive at the Nutrition Assessment Laboratory between 7:00am
and 7:30am. Details of the study will be re-iterated and informed consent will be obtained
first thing on the morning of the first appointment. Eligibility will then then be confirmed
by measuring height and weight and BMI calculation, and a over the counter pregnancy test
will be performed on women. Demographic survey and 24-hour dietary recall will be obtained
for 2 week days and 1 weekend day. Baseline measurements will then be obtained which include:
Waist circumference, body compositition by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan
(performed by Dr. de Jonge or Rafia Virk, who will be trained by Dr. de Jonge). The DXA scan
involves lying on a table while wearing lose fitting, comfortable clothing. The scanner uses
a low dose x-ray to determine the amount of fat, muscle and bone in your body. After lying
down for 30 minutes, a metabolic cart will be used to measure resting energy expenditure by
indirect calorimetry. For this procedure, a plastic dome will placed over the participants
head that will measure their resting energy expenditure (REE). Baseline REE will then be
measured for 30 minutes. After getting a baseline measure participants will consume a
standard meal. We will continue to measure resting energy expenditure for 120 minutes. Blood
glucose using a glucometer will also be determine before and 2 hours after the standardized
meal. The REE measurements will be performed by Ms. Rafia Virk. Ms. Virk will be trained in
the use of the metabolic cart by Dr. Lilian de Jonge who has over 20 years experience in the
use of indirect calorimetry for the assessment of REE. After this test, the subjects will
undergo a capsaicin threshold test. For this test, deionized water with red food coloring
will serve as the blank. The testing compound will be cayenne pepper. The target samples,
containing very low concentrations of cayenne pepper (0-1mg/g), will also have red food
coloring so that they will only be distinguishable to participant by sense of taste rather
than taste and sight. There will be nine sets of rows, each with 3 sets of samples. Each set
will contain 2 blanks and one target sample. The target sample increase in concentration as
the participant moves along the row. The participant will be asked to taste test the samples
and pick the target sample out of the three. This appointment will take about 3 hours.

The second test day will occur within one week of the first day. The participant will arrive
with a 12 hour fast during the first week of the study. They will consume the same
standardized meal (provided by Dr. de Jonge) from first appointment but with the addition of
capsaicin (cayenne pepper powder form) (4tsp). They will then undergo a metabolic cart test
(120 mins). Their blood glucose will also be determined using a glucometer for the following
3 hours post consumption. This appointment will last about 3 hours.

Inclusion Criteria:

- 18-45 years of age females or 18-50 males

- Generally healthy non-diabetic overweight or obese men and women

- BMI 23-33 kg/m2

- Willing to abstain from caffeine and alcohol for 3 days prior to testing

- Able to provide written consent in English

- Ability to communicate in English (oral and written)

Exclusion Criteria:

- BMI < 23 kg/m2 or >33 kg/m2

- Pregnant or Nursing

- Taking prescribed or over the counter medication affecting fluid balance or
metabolism

- Suffers from hepatic, renal, pulmonary, endocrine or hematological disease

- Performs more than 3 hours a week of strenuous exercise

- Consumes, on average, more than 2 alcoholic beverages per day

- More than 5 kg of weight change over the past 6 months

- Claustrophobic

- Consumes capsaicin foods habitually 3x/week