I find this particularly interesting because sleeve surgery can produce some disruption to the vagus nerve. Feels like there's a connection here...

http://www.scienceda...20509123854.htm

Hot Sauce Ingredient Reduces 'Beer Belly' Fat as a Weight-Loss Surgery Alternative

Ali Tavakkoli, MD, BWH Department of Surgery, and his team have published a study investigating whether two surgeries called vagal de-afferentation-which uses capsaicin, the component responsible for the chili pepper's burning sensation-and vagatomy can achieve weight loss and reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases with fewer side effects when compared to today's bariatric surgical options.

The study is published in the May issue of Digestive Diseases and Sciences. The study is accompanied by an editorial by Edward A. Fox, PhD, Purdue University.

After testing the two surgeries in the lab, the researchers found that vagotomy significantly reduced total body fat, as well as visceral abdominal fat-the "beer belly" fat that pads the spaces between abdominal organs. Vagal de-afferentation also reduced these fats, but to a lesser degree. However, according to the researchers, the reduction is still remarkable.

I wish it was that easy!

Well if you read the study, it IS a surgery, not just "eating hot sauce." It's just a somewhat less-invasive surgery.

I had rather be shot in the head than to ever take another capsaicin pill. I tried it before my surgery. Those things are like hell in a bottle! I took ONE and within 5 minutes the burning started. I was on blistering, scorching fire for two days. It didn't matter what I did it would not stop. So let me tell you, unless you are a masochist that likes to swallow branding irons and poop lava, STAY AWAY FROM INTERNAL CAPSAICIN!

OK, let me reiterate: this study isn't about eating capsaicin. It's about a surgery that uses capsaicin to partially or completely deaden the vagus nerve. The headline is a little misleading, true, but I think folks are missing the point -- it may be possible to gain significant weight-loss benefits just from altering the vagus nerve.

Yes, I read it. I was letting everyone know how bad just the pills were. I can't imagine letting them use it to 'burn up' a major nerve in my body. I'd be afraid that there might be one of those freak side effects that happens to .01% of people and it would be MEE. You know like shingles, but instead of being burned up by chicken pox it would be like hot peppers in your veins for the rest of your life. I'd say, " hey guys, if burning the vagus nerve works, just use the ol' laser on me." LOL Then again, if it is the alteration of the vagus nerve that makes me freeze to death all the time (as some have suggested), maybe that heat would be a good thing for me

I'm not smart enough to really *get* this, I admit it -- but my great aunt died when her vagus nerve collapsed (failed?) and led to heart failure. So anything about that nerve makes me, um, nervous LOL. But I remember reading about vagatomy and thinking it was interesting. I didn't realise that VSG impacts the vagus nerve either. I guess I won't go getting all retroactively wound up about it though.