Stearoyl vanillylamide is a naturally-occurring capsaicin analogue found in various pepper species.  Capsaicin is responsible for the hot/burning feeling caused by chili peppers. Although stearoyl vanillylamide is a TRPV1 activator of comparable potency to capsaicin, stearoyl vanillylamide is nonpungent, meaning it does not impart the “spicy” or irritative effects of capsaicin — in other words, it does not irritate the stomach, skin, eyes or mouth.  (This is because the TRPV1 activation kinetics of stearoyl vanillylamide, and other non-pungent capsaicin analogs like olvanil and arvanil, are slower and evoke a qualitatively different calcium-flux response.)

TRPV1 activators have been thoroughly studied for their metabolism-enhancing and fat-burning effects:

– TRPV1 activation stimulates the release of catecholamines such as adrenaline and noradrenaline from the adrenal medulla, and noradrenaline is a major regulator of lipolysis via β-adrenoreceptor activation.

– Nonpungent capsaicin analogs have been demonstrated to increase energy expenditure in a human clinical trial.  In a separate trial, stearoyl vanillylamide in particular increased lipolysis and oxidation of free fatty acids in rats, resulting in increased capacity for exercise.

– A systematic review of human clinical trials observed that regular consumption of capsaicinoids increased energy expenditure, and significantly reduced abdominal adipose tissue levels.

Capsaicin, as mentioned previously, is famous as the substance which imparts a “spicy” flavor to hot peppers.  Although its effects are nearly identical to those of stearoyl vanillylamide, they’re not exactly identical.  Both compounds induce adrenaline secretion — but animal experiments indicate that capsaicin does so very quickly, with peak adrenalin levels seen 30 minutes after dosing, whereas stearoyl vanillylamide induces an effect of equal magnitude, but one in which adrenalin doesn’t hit peak levels until 120 minutes after dosing.  The difference, therefore, is one of kinetics.  By combining stearoyl vanillylamide with a lower dose of capsaicin, adrenalin secretion is induced in a stable and consistent manner, which leads to faster fat-loss.

Zingerone, also called vanillylacetone and 0-paradol, is the dominant pungent substance in ginger.  Due to its prevalence in the modern diet and in various traditional forms of medicine, it has been thoroughly researched — and this research has shown zingerone to be effective as a mild TRPV1 agonist, as a moderately potent PPAR-alpha agonist, and as a very effective potentiator of the effects of norepinephrine.  The latter property is especially noteworthy here: As capsaicin and stearoyl vanillylamide both increase norepinephrine secretion and plasma levels, and as zingerone increases by as much as eight-fold the amount of fat burned in response to norepinephrine in fat cells, the combination is an extremely potent one.  The bottom line: Zingerone strongly augments the fat-burning potential of stearoyl vanillylamide and capsaicin, and, additionally, may induce fat-loss via PPAR-alpha mediated mechanisms.

No cost was spared to ensure an optimal dose of each ingredient for maximum effect.  When used together as Thermo-VT, these three substances turbocharge effective pathways for bodyfat reduction.

Palmitoylethanolamide, or PEA, is a signalling lipid the body produces naturally as a defense and repair reaction in response to inflammatory conditions. As a supplement, palmitoylethanolamide aids the body’s own ability to repair injuries and regulate pain signalling.

PEA: The European Secret?

Despite over 40 years of studies, numerous positive clinical trials, and association with Nobel-prize winning research, PEA remains relatively unknown in the United States. Originally discovered as a component of egg lecithin, decades of research have supported its use in a variety of situations involving pain and/or inflammation, and it has been available as a neutraceutical in Europe since 2008.

Palmitoylethanolamide works through a number of different pathways, including cannabinoid-like G-coupled receptors and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α). Some PPAR-α agonists have been shown to be effective for both acute and chronic pain. Mast cells release bioactive mediators like histamine that dilates blood vessels leading to swelling, redness, and warmth. PEA can modulate and regulate mast cell activation, inhibiting the release of histamine.

Palmitoylethanolamide is ideal for use to aid recovery and provide relief from acute and chronic sports injuries, in combination with medical attention where appropriate.