Home Ingredients Axivite® (Phenylcapsaicin, a Capsaicin Analog for Exercise Performance)
Athletic Performance

Axivite® (Phenylcapsaicin, a Capsaicin Analog for Exercise Performance)

Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
2 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Axivite® is the SEE Nutrition / aXichem brand of phenylcapsaicin, a chemically synthesised analogue of capsaicin with higher oral bioavailability than natural capsaicin. It is authorised as a Novel Food in the EU at up to 2.5 mg per day (EFSA, 2019) and is marketed for food supplements. Small randomised crossover trials in trained adults have tested it for exercise outcomes such as fat oxidation and resistance-training performance. It has not been tested in humans for mental energy, focus or cognition, and it is not a botanical extract.

Studied Dose 0.625 mg and 2.5 mg as single oral doses before exercise in the crossover trials; the EU Novel Food limit is 2.5 mg per day.
Active Compound Phenylcapsaicin, a chemically synthesised analogue of capsaicin developed by aXichem and sold as Axivite® and aXiphen. Like capsaicin it activates the TRPV1 receptor, but it is more bioavailable when taken by mouth. Its identity is disclosed (EFSA Novel Food opinion, 2019); it is not 3-methoxytyramine and is not a proprietary secret blend. Human trials used 0.625 mg and 2.5 mg doses.

Benefits

Fat oxidation and aerobic exercise performance

In a randomised, triple-blind crossover trial in 17 active young men, single doses of 0.625 mg or 2.5 mg of phenylcapsaicin raised peak fat oxidation during a 60-minute cycling test compared with placebo and lowered maximum heart rate at the higher dose. These are small, acute findings in trained males from a single research group, not evidence of everyday mental energy or weight loss.

Supported by Trial 1

Resistance and high-intensity training performance

In crossover trials in resistance-trained men (n=25) and CrossFit athletes (n=50), 2.5 mg of phenylcapsaicin improved squat velocity and load and reduced 24 to 48 hour muscle soreness versus placebo, with lower perceived exertion. Trials were small and acute and run by one overlapping research group whose members advise a supplement brand. Phenylcapsaicin has not been tested for focus, attention or cognition.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

TRPV1 activation and fat oxidation during exercise

Phenylcapsaicin activates the TRPV1 receptor, the same target as dietary capsaicin, and is more bioavailable taken orally. In exercise trials this is associated with a shift toward fat oxidation and lower perceived exertion. The earlier suggestion of adenosine or neurotransmitter-precursor mechanisms was speculative and does not apply to this ingredient.

Clinical trials

1
Phenylcapsaicin and aerobic capacity in active young males (randomised crossover, n=17)
PubMed

Jimenez-Martinez P and colleagues, Frontiers in Physiology, 2023. A randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial of the actual Axivite ingredient, phenylcapsaicin. Four of the authors declare they are scientific advisors to a sports-supplement brand (Life Pro Nutrition).

17 active young men, mean age 24.7 years. Each completed low-dose (0.625 mg), high-dose (2.5 mg) and placebo sessions, doing a 60-minute cycling test at the fat-oxidation intensity followed by an incremental test to exhaustion.

Both the 0.625 mg and 2.5 mg doses raised peak fat oxidation during steady-state cycling versus placebo (p=0.002), and the high dose lowered maximum heart rate (p=0.03). The authors concluded phenylcapsaicin may increase aerobic capacity through improved fat oxidation. This is a small, acute, single-group trial in trained males, with no independent replication, and it does not test mental energy, focus or cognition.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Phenylcapsaicin was judged safe by EFSA as a Novel Food up to 2.5 mg per day, with no genotoxicity concern; it was designed to cause less oral and gastrointestinal burning than natural capsaicin. As a capsaicin-class TRPV1 agonist, higher intakes may still cause warmth, gastrointestinal discomfort or reflux in sensitive people. Long-term human safety data are limited.

Important Drug interactions

No specific human drug-interaction studies have been published for phenylcapsaicin. As a capsaicin analogue acting on TRPV1 and processed in the gut and liver, interactions with drugs affecting gastrointestinal absorption or hepatic metabolism cannot be ruled out. Discuss with a clinician if you take prescription medication.

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Frequently asked questions about Axivite® (Phenylcapsaicin, a Capsaicin Analog for Exercise Performance)

What is Axivite?

Axivite® is the SEE Nutrition / aXichem brand of phenylcapsaicin, a chemically synthesised analogue of capsaicin with higher oral bioavailability than natural capsaicin. It is authorised as a Novel Food in the EU at up to 2.5 mg per day (EFSA, 2019) and is marketed for food supplements.

What is Axivite used for?

Axivite is researched primarily for Athletic Performance. In a randomised, triple-blind crossover trial in 17 active young men, single doses of 0.625 mg or 2.5 mg of phenylcapsaicin raised peak fat oxidation during a 60-minute cycling test compared with placebo and lowered maximum heart rate at th…

What is the recommended dosage of Axivite?

The clinically studied dose is 0.625 mg and 2.5 mg as single oral doses before exercise in the crossover trials; the EU Novel Food limit is 2.5 mg per day. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Axivite safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Axivite is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Phenylcapsaicin was judged safe by EFSA as a Novel Food up to 2.5 mg per day, with no genotoxicity concern; it was designed to cause less oral and gastrointestinal burning than natural capsaicin. It may also interact with some medications. Axivite is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Axivite interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: No specific human drug-interaction studies have been published for phenylcapsaicin. As a capsaicin analogue acting on TRPV1 and processed in the gut and liver, interactions with drugs affecting gastrointestinal absorption or hepatic metabolism cannot be ruled out. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Axivite?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Axivite as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 5 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(5 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA); Turck D, Castenmiller J, et al. Safety of phenylcapsaicin as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 EFSA Journal. 2019;EFSA J. 2019 Jun 14;17(6):e05718. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5718.PubMedUsed to support: European Food Safety Authority Novel Food opinion: phenylcapsaicin is a chemically synthesised capsaicin analogue judged safe for food supplements up to 2.5 mg per day, with no genotoxicity concern. This is a regulatory safety evaluation, not an efficacy trial.
  2. Jimenez-Martinez P, Cornejo-Daza PJ, Sanchez-Valdepenas J, et al. Effects of different phenylcapsaicin doses on resistance training performance, muscle damage, protein breakdown, metabolic response, ratings of perceived exertion, and recovery: a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2023;J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2023 Dec;20(1):2204083. doi:10.1080/15502783.2023.2204083.PubMedUsed to support: Randomised triple-blind crossover trial in 25 resistance-trained men: 2.5 mg phenylcapsaicin improved full-squat velocity and lowered perceived exertion and a muscle-damage marker versus placebo, while 0.625 mg did not. Small and acute; two authors advise a supplement brand.
  3. Jimenez-Martinez P, Alix-Fages C, Janicijevic D, et al. Effects of phenylcapsaicin on aerobic capacity and physiological parameters in active young males: a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial Frontiers in Physiology. 2023;Front Physiol. 2023 May 9;14:1190345. doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1190345.PubMedUsed to support: Randomised triple-blind crossover trial in 17 active young men: single 0.625 mg and 2.5 mg doses of phenylcapsaicin raised peak fat oxidation during 60 minutes of cycling versus placebo (p=0.002) and lowered maximum heart rate at the high dose. Small, acute, single research group.
  4. Jimenez-Martinez P, Sanchez-Valdepenas J, Cornejo-Daza PJ, et al. Effects of different phenylcapsaicin doses on neuromuscular activity and mechanical performance in trained male subjects: a randomized, triple-blinded, crossover, placebo-controlled trial Frontiers in Physiology. 2023;Front Physiol. 2023 Aug 2;14:1215644. doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1215644.PubMedUsed to support: Randomised triple-blind crossover trial in 25 trained men: 2.5 mg phenylcapsaicin improved squat lifting velocity and countermovement jump versus placebo, with no change in surface EMG. Small and acute, from the same research group as the other phenylcapsaicin trials.
  5. Trivino AR, Diaz-Romero C, Martin-Olmedo JJ, et al. Acute phenylcapsaicin supplementation improves CrossFit performance: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2026;J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2026 Dec 31;23(1):2615274. doi:10.1080/15502783.2026.2615274.PubMedUsed to support: Randomised triple-blind crossover trial in 50 CrossFit athletes: 2.5 mg phenylcapsaicin taken 45 minutes before a session improved squat load and repetitions and reduced 24 and 48 hour muscle soreness versus placebo, with no change in lactate or heart rate. Acute performance study from one research group.