Hot Peppers Deliver Heart Health Benefits

Studies conducted over the years have shown that capsaicin, an active component in chili peppers, promotes a variety of health benefits, ranging from regulating healthy blood pressure levels to providing quick relief for joint pain. But now, a recent research study from the Chinese University of Hong Kong indicates capsaicin’s potential role in promoting heart health.¹

Heart Health – A National Health Conce

Several years ago, CNN reported that heart disease was the most common cause of death amongst Americans.² While concerns about heart-related diseases continues to rise, most Americans do not recognize the gravity of the situation since cardiovascular disease still remains the number one cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One in every three deaths in the United States is due to heart disease and stroke - that’s 2,200 deaths per day due to heart disease. More than 2 million Americans suffer from heart attacks and stroke each year, of those 800,000 results in death.³

The CDC reports that 71 million or 33.5% of adults 20 and older have high bad cholesterol levels and the United States isn’t the only country with such a high rate. The World Health Organization recently reported that countries like England, Germany, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Scotland, and Thailand also have a large population of people with high cholesterol and many of them are not even aware of the need for treatment.⁴

Heart Supplements – a Growing Consumer Choice
Since cardiovascular disease is largely treatable and preventable through dietary changes, physical activity and targeted nutritional supplementation, heart health supplements are in high demand by consumers. Supplements are considered to have more strategic benefits because they work with the body’s natural defense systems and address the underlying cause of cardiovascular disease, rather than just treating symptoms as pharmaceuticals typically do.⁵ According to SPINS, a market research company based in Schaumburg, Ill., consumers bought $227 million worth of supplements that targeted hypertension, atherosclerosis and high cholesterol in natural food stores (this figure excludes the whole foods market).⁶ Fish oil, turmeric, CoQ10, Vitamin D are some of the more popular ingredients used in manufacturing heart health supplements.⁷

Unclogging Arteries with Capsaicin
The recent study on capsaicin conducted at the Chinese University of Hong Kong holds high potential for yet another promising natural ingredient that can be used in heart health supplement formulations. Capsaicin and its chemical relatives, capsaicinoids, may help prevent heart disease by helping to lower cholesterol levels. Scientists believe capsaicin works to reduce the accumulation of cholesterol in the body and increase its breakdown and excretion. How do these spicy compounds work in the body? Researchers say capsaicin may help to block the action of a certain gene known to make arteries contract. Narrow arteries restrict blood flow to the heart and other organs. The blocking of this particular gene, therefore, helps to allow blood to flow freely through blood vessels.Researchers further found evidence that suggests capsaicinoids may also reduce existing deposits in blood vessels.

In the study, hamsters that were fed a high-cholesterol diet were divided into groups. Each group was given supplements containing differing amounts of capsaicinoids. In addition to reducing overall cholesterol levels, capsaicinoids were also seen to reduce low-density lipids (LDL), the bad cholesterol, without affecting the levels of high density lipids (HDL), the good cholesterol.

Factors Driving the Heart Health Market
According to a Mintel 2009 report⁸, the market for heart healthy products is not only driven by factors such as age, but the rising rates of:
Hypertension

• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Obesity
• Cigarette smoking

Most of the above factors can be addressed through lifestyle changes.

Science-Supported Heart Health Supplements
Nutraceutical companies can work with a GMP certified supplement manufacturer to create a line of heart health supplements that regulate healthy blood pressure levels, promote healthy circulation, reduce bad cholesterol and nutritionally support healthy heart function.

When searching for a supplement manufacturer, look for one with an award-winning history and that offers in-house manufacturing, graphic design and fulfillment services. Choosing a company that offers all of these services under one roof will help speed up production time and will save you the hassle of working with multiple vendors to get your product completed.