title: Topical application of capsaicin reduces visceral adipose fat by affecting adipokine levels in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Visceral obesity contributes to the development of obesity-related disorders such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and fatty liver disease, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we determined whether topical application of capsaicin can reduce fat accumulation in visceral adipose tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We first observed that topical application of 0.075% capsaicin to male mice fed a high-fat diet significantly reduced weight gain and visceral fat. Fat cells were markedly smaller in the mesenteric and epididymal adipose tissues of mice treated with capsaicin cream. The capsaicin treatment also lowered serum levels of fasting glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Immunoblot analysis and RT-PCR revealed increased expression of adiponectin and other adipokines including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α, PPARγ, visfatin, and adipsin, but reduced expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-6.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that topical application of capsaicin to obese mice limits fat accumulation in adipose tissues and may reduce inflammation and increase insulin sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Science, School of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Gong-Rak
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mi Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Dong-Joon
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Ah-Ram
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Neung-Hwa
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: In-Seob
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D054392:Adipokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000378:metabolism; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002212:Capsicum / Q000737:chemistry; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D011416:Complement Factor D / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004822:Epididymis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D052242:Adiponectin; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015850:Interleukin-6; D047493:PPAR alpha; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002784:Cholesterol; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; D011416:Complement Factor D; D002211:Capsaicin