Introduction:

Capsicum species, or hot peppers, are used worldwide as food and spices. Capsaicinoids(in the naturally occurring forms of capsaicin, dihydro-capsaicin and nor-dihydro-capsaicin) are the major pungent principle in red hot peppers. These capsaicinoids are active ingredient from natural and universally recognized food source -hold out as promising and safe options for nutritional supplements aimed at regulating diet and supporting weight management programs.

Benefits of Capsaicin and Capsaicinoids in Diet:

The steeply increasing number of publications on capsaicin (exceeding 650–700 papers per year) is a clear indication that this spicy pungent agent has become nowadays really a “hot” topic in nutritional and physiological studies.
The benefits of capsaicin are well reported in animal models and human studies . These studies show diet-induced thermogenesis(i.e., an increase in energy expenditure in the body) and a reduction in appetite levels(shown by decreased cumulative food intake) after consumption of Capsaicin from red peppers or their concentrated extracts. Recent studies also show beneficial reduction in body mass, % body fat, waist circumference, and a desirable reduction in levels of critical markers of weight maintenance such as blood glucose, insulin , tricaylglycerol and leptin . All these point towards the immense potential for nutritionists to incorporate Capsicum and its active compounds Capsaicinoids in dietary formulations to curb excess appetite, prevent weight gain and facilitate weight loss inducing behaviour.

Addressing the Industry Challenge-OmniActives and Kancor:

Kancor and its group companies are among the largest industrial processors of red peppers in the world in the form of raw material, dehydrated flakes, powder, oleoresin concentrates, standardized oil/water dispersible formulations and capsaicin isolates. Our company therefore has been able to deal with a diverse range of formulation and production challenges with Capsicum products across 35-40 countries over the past 35 years.
As suppliers of oleoresins, liquid exracts and dry encapsulated flavour systems using capsaicinoids, we have recently seen the difficulties which customers in the nutritional industry have faced while trying to use these products(originally designed for food applications like dry mixes and wet dispersions) as a reliable and standardized source of capsaicinoids in supplement dosage forms like tablets and capsules.
Our product delivery system innovators-who pioneered novel vegetarian delivery systems for carotenoids such as Lutein, Lutein esters and Zeaxanthin-with specific attention to the needs of tablet and capsule manufacturers responded to this industry challenge by:

	Developing a revolutionary capsaicin extract beadlet using OmniActive’s patent pending technology and a proprietary matrix of excipients and coatings which would ensure that there would be minimal oral, and no gastric irritation from highly concentrated capsaicinoid extracts when formulated into a standard dosage form such as a tablet or a capsule.
	The technology used in developing such a product also works at facilitating full intestinal absorption of capsaicinoids so that there is minimal discomfort of any anal irritation due to unabsorbed capsaicin.
	Most importantly, the entire active matrix of capsaicinoids, spice extractives and excipients is bound into a dense coated spheroidal beadlet complex in which:

	Due to high density and superior flow characteristics, the product is very easily handled in high speed tablet/capsule lines
	Due to its novel surface coating ensures there is no exposed capsaicinoid layer, resulting in minimal irritation of the skin/nose/eyes in the course of normal product handling in manufacturing lines
	The binding strength of the beadlet matrix allows virtually no chipping and dusting , thereby minimizing the discomfort and exposure risk for plant operator
	Customized levels of capsaicinoids from Capsicum extracts can be duly incorporated to deliver required level fo Scoville Heat Units.

This exciting concept is being introduced to leading customers as the Capsimax™ Capsicum Extract Vegetarian Beadlet System. Some leading international supplement manufacturers have already shown an extremely positive response to the safety, ease of use and effective product performance in their prototype products.

Capsimax™ is made from a high quality Capsicum extract –manufactured using Kancor’s proprietary technology under completely safe conditions with special care to ensure minimal residues of heavy metals, solvents and free from harmful micro-organisms. Capsimax™ Capsicum Extract Vegetarian Beadlets are made with patent pending and proprietary technology from OmniActive Health Technologies at specially designed manufacturing sites containing the irritant and pungent effects of the high pungency Capsicum Extract. Capsimax™ is manufactured under an ISO-9000 quality system with strict HACCP controls.

Capsimax™ beadlets are made from ingredients which are completely free from gelatin and any oter derivative of animal origin. The product line is GMO-free and trans-fat free.