Relationship between physical activities and chili consumption on anti-oxidative effects and autonomic nervous system activities in healthy volunteers

Abstract

Since physical activity and chili consumption are parts of daily life in people and both factors have been reported effects on autonomic nervous system but there had been no reports on interactions of them. Therefore, this study was aimed to identify the relationship between physical acitivity and chili consumption on anti-oxidative effects and autonomic nervous system activities. Methods: 140 healthy male and female volunteers of 18-60 years old were recruited. They were tested to identify the level of daily chili consumption and self-reports following questionaires on controlled factors such as sex, age, BMI, stress (DMH, 2007), sleep, occupation, breakfast, high fat food, black softdrink, tea, coffee, alcohol, history of autonomic nervous system and metabolic diseases in family members, and physical activities (GPAQ, WHO, 2008) were recorded. On appointment date, after ≥10 hours fasting plasma of volunteers was taken to analyse for lagtime by TBARS assay and for total antioxidant power by FRAP assay. EKG lead II was recorded continuously for 10 minutes each on supine and tilt 70^o positions for heart rate variability (HRV) by ADInstrument Power Lab. Results: Study found that chili consumption in daily life increased total antioxidation power and balance of autonomic nervous system activities. Adequate physical acivities had no effects on oxidative stress but increased balance of autonomic nervous system activities. Although chili consumption and physical acivities had no significant interactions by multiple linear regression but they were found a trend that people who had adequate physical activities increased balance of autonomic nervous system activities when increased chili consumption more than those who had inadequate physical activities. Conclusion: average chili consumption for Capsicum frutescens Linn. 11.587±9.009 g fresh chili/meal or capsaicin concentration 0.013±0.010 mg/g food increased antioxidative power and increased balance of autonomic nervous system activities; and adequate physical activities for ≥600 MET-min/week increased balance of autonomic nervous system activities. Therefore, chili consumption and adequate physical activities in daily life are helpful in promoting health.