Capsaicinoid supplements show mixed exercise-performance results in a review
Acute use was associated with better resistance performance and longer time to exhaustion, but overall aerobic performance and sustained benefits remained uncertain.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Capsaicinoid or capsinoid supplementation showed a favorable signal for resistance-exercise performance after acute use. In aerobic exercise, time to exhaustion improved, but the pooled overall performance result was not statistically significant. Longer-term evidence was limited and inconsistent, so the review does not establish a dependable training benefit or a regimen to follow.
The abstract does not report comparison treatments, supplement doses, adverse events, or the exact duration of the included studies. Sparse chronic evidence limits conclusions about sustained changes in performance.
Performance tests differ
The review assessed resistance outcomes such as total lifting volume and repetitions to failure, alongside aerobic time trials and time to exhaustion. These tests answer different performance questions, so results should be interpreted separately.
Limited evidence for ongoing use
Perceived exertion was lower overall. Only 1 of 3 chronic resistance studies reported increased strength, and neither of the 2 chronic aerobic studies reported improvement. This leaves substantial uncertainty about benefits from ongoing supplementation.
The original publication
Potential ergogenic aid of capsaicinoid or capsinoids in healthy adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Quizzini GH, Campos JMS, Nunes FAS et al.
Nutr Res · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41505853
- Record checked
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