title: Influence of repeated infusion of capsaicin-contained red pepper sauce on esophageal secondary peristalsis in humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 has been implicated as a target mediator for heartburn perception and modulation of esophageal secondary peristalsis. Our aim was to determine the effect of repeated esophageal infusion of capsaicin-contained red pepper sauce on heartburn perception and secondary peristalsis in healthy adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary peristalsis was performed with mid-esophageal injections of air in 15 healthy adults. Two separate protocols including esophageal infusion with saline and capsaicin-contained red pepper sauce and 2 consecutive sessions of capsaicin-contained red pepper sauce were randomly performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After repeated infusion of capsaicin-contained red pepper sauce, the threshold volume to activate secondary peristalsis was significantly increased during slow (p < 0.001) and rapid air injections (p = 0.004). Acute infusion of capsaicin-contained red pepper sauce enhanced heartburn perception (p < 0.001), but the intensity of heartburn perception was significantly reduced after repeated capsaicin-contained red pepper sauce infusion (p = 0.007). Acute infusion of capsaicin-contained red pepper sauce significantly increased pressure wave amplitudes of distal esophagus during slow (p = 0.003) and rapid air injections (p = 0.01), but repeated infusion of capsaicin-contained red pepper sauce significantly decreased pressure wave amplitude of distal esophagus during slow (p = 0.0005) and rapid air injections (p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated esophageal infusion of capsaicin appears to attenuate heartburn perception and inhibit distension-induced secondary peristalsis in healthy adults. These results suggest capsaicin-sensitive afferents in modulating sensorimotor function of secondary peristalsis in human esophagus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: X S
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006356:Heartburn / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002211:Capsaicin
keywords: capsaicin; esophageal motility; secondary peristalsis