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. 2016;20(5):546-52.
doi: 10.1007/s12603-015-0628-3.

Consumption of Chilies, but not Sweet Peppers, Is Positively Related to Handgrip Strength in an Adult Population

H Wu  1 , M Wei, Q Zhang, H Du, Y Xia, L Liu, C Wang, H Shi, X Guo, X Liu, C Li, X Bao, Q Su, Y Gu, L Fang, H Yang, F Yu, S Sun, X Wang, M Zhou, Q Jia, H Zhao, K Song, K Niu
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Free article

Consumption of Chilies, but not Sweet Peppers, Is Positively Related to Handgrip Strength in an Adult Population

H Wu et al. J Nutr Health Aging. 2016.
Free article

Abstract

Background: Chili consumption may have a beneficial effect on muscle strength in the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between frequency of chili consumption and handgrip strength in adults.

Design: Population-based cross-sectional study.

Setting: This study used baseline data from the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study.

Participants: A total of 3 717 subjects were recruited to the study. Frequency of chili consumption during the previous month was assessed using a valid self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the relationship between muscle strength and frequency of chili consumption. Handgrip strength was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer.

Results: After adjustment for potential confounding factors, significant relationships were observed between different categories of chili consumption and handgrip strength in males, the means (95% confidence interval) for handgrip strength across chili consumption categories were 44.7 (42.1, 47.2) for < one time/week; 45.5 (42.9, 48.1) for one time/week; and 45.8 (43.3, 48.4) for ≥ 2-3 times/week (P for trend < 0.01). Similar results were not observed with sweet pepper consumption.

Conclusions: This study reveals a positive correlation between frequency of chili consumption and muscle strength in adult males. Further studies are necessary in order to determine whether there is a causal relationship between chili consumption frequency and muscle strength.

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