Abstract
Purpose : Capsaicin (CAP) and dihydrocapsaicin are the major pungent principles of hot pepper. Capsaicinoids and their analogues are ingested as components of spices. Recent studies showed CAP enhanced the energy metabolism of rats through adrenergic actions. However, reports on its nutritional influences from a standpoint of different life-stages are few. Therefore, comparisons among three life-stages in CAP-induced changes of plasma glucose, triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations were studied. Methods : The male SD (3 wks old : infant, 8 wks old : adult and 50 wks old : aged) rats were divided into the control (CON) and CAP-administered (dose=3mg/kg BW, ADM) groups. The administrations of CAP and CAP-free solutions to rats were carried out from the subcutaneous of cervical region of back. Plasma energy substrate concentrations were assayed by the routine method. Results : CAP markedly raised the plasma glucose levels in the three life-stage rats although plasma volume ratios showed no significant differences. The magnitude of the CAP-induced glucose responses, evaluated from the ratio of the ADM group to the CON group, was 1.43, 2.08 and 1.67, respectively, in 1 hour after administration, in infant, adult and aged rats. In conclusion, the results show that CAP-induced glucose responses are different from age to age. [Jpn J Physiol 54 Suppl:S232 (2004)]
