New research suggests a compound in peppers may help the body burn more calories.

Scientists at the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition tested the weight loss potential of a non-spicy form of capsaicin called dihydrocapsiate (DCT).

The study included 34 men and women who were willing to consume a very low-calorie liquid meal replacement product for 28 days. The researchers then randomized the subjects to take either placebo pills or supplements containing two different dosage levels of the non-burning DCT pepper analog. At the beginning and end of the study, body weight and body fat were assessed, and the researchers determined energy expenditure in each subject after he or she consumed one serving of the test meal.

Researchers found that energy expenditure was significantly increased in the group consuming the highest amount of DCT.

This suggests that eating this pepper-derived substance can have the same potential benefit as hot peppers by increasing food-induced heat production without the burn. They were also able to show that DCT significantly increased fat oxidation, pushing the body to use more fat as fuel. This may help people lose weight when they consume a low-calorie diet by increasing metabolism.