The Influence of Capsaicin Gel During Exercise Within the Heat

Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the human thermoregulatory impact of applying a commercially available capsaicin gel to the skin prior to moderate intensity walking under heated conditions. Experimental Visits will consist of 30 min of treadmill walking at a moderate pace (3.5 mph, 5% grade) under hot conditions (38°C, 60%RH) and will be randomized and counterbalanced for capsaicin gel or a hypoallergenic gel (control) application.

Gels will be applied to areas commonly exposed during outdoor activity in warm conditions (shoulder to wrist, mid thigh to ankle). Accordingly, participants will wear shorts and a tank top shirt during exercise. Core temperature, skin temperature, galvanic skin response, laser doppler blood flow, and heart rate will be continuously recorded throughout the exercise bout via an integrated analog to digital converter. Sweat will be collected during exercise using commercially available absorbent patches. Thermal sensation will be assessed throughout exercise via the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) thermal sensation likert scale (cold to hot).

Lastly, nude body weight will be recorded pre and post exercise for sweat rate determination. The capsaicin and control trials will be separated by a 7-14 day washout period

Conditions

• Acute Exercise
• Heat Exposure

Interventions

BIOLOGICAL

Capsaicin

application of capsaicin gel from shoulder to wrist and mid thigh to ankle

BIOLOGICAL

Control Gel

application of hypoallergenic gel from shoulder to wrist and mid thigh to ankle

OTHER

Exercise

treadmill walking 3.5 mph at 5% grade

OTHER

Hot environment

38°C, 60% relative humidity

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Nebraska

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Dustin R Slivka, PHD · University of Nebraska

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

19 Years

Max Age

45 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-05-25

Primary Completion

2022-10-01

Completion

2022-10-01

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations