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Article: Red pepper for heartburn. (Literature Review & Commentary).(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
- Article date:
- April 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Townsend Letter Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Thirty patients with functional dyspepsia (patients with gastroesophageal reflux and irritable bowel syndrome were excluded) were randomly assigned to receive, in double-blind fashion, 2.5 g/day of red pepper powder (Capsicum annum) or placebo in capsules, in 3 divided doses before meals, for 5 weeks. The symptom score decreased (improved) progressively during the study in the group receiving red pepper; after 5 weeks, the mean symptom score was 48% lower in the red pepper group than in the placebo group (p
Comment: The results of this small clinical trial suggest that administration of red pepper powder can decrease the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms in people ...