Chili Pepper and Reduced All-Cause Mortality

Research synthesisLow evidenceMixed effect size3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, all reported beneficial effects on reduced all-cause mortality, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. The largest meta-analysis (N=564,748) found a small but significant risk reduction (HR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.85–0.90), while higher intake frequency (>4 times per week) was associated with a moderate reduction in Italian adults (HR 0.77, 95% CI: 0.66–0.90). Most evidence comes from observational studies in general adult populations; no specific dose or form was consistently reported across studies.

Studied populations: General adult populations (Italian and multi-cohort samples)

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. All three studies are observational or meta-analyses of observational data, so residual confounding cannot be ruled out. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed).

Generated May 13, 2026

Doses used in studies

/week: 4 (median 4, IQR 4–4) — 1 study

3 of 3 papers

Chili pepper intake and all-cause and disease-specific mortality.
- 2023-08
- Meta-Analysis · n = 564
- International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition 93(4)
- - Lili Yang
  - Jiahong Sun
  - Min Zhao
  - Bo Xi
- PubMed: 35038885
- DOI: 10.1024/0300-9831/a000746
3 Insights on
- Reduced All-Cause Mortality
- High evidence
consumption of chili pepper (ever or more than once a week) could significantly reduce the risk of all-cause mortality (summary adjusted HR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.85, 0.90)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Chili Pepper Consumption and Mortality in Italian Adults.
- 2019-12
- Observational · n = 22,811
- Journal of the American College of Cardiology 74(25)
- - M. Bonaccio
  - A. Di Castelnuovo
  - S. Costanzo
  - E. Ruggiero
  - A. De Curtis
  - M. Persichillo
  - C. Tabolacci
  - F. Facchiano
  - C. Cerletti
  - M. Donati
  - G. de Gaetano
  - L. Iacoviello
- PubMed: 31856971
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.09.068
5 Insights on
- Reduced All-Cause Mortality
- High evidence
Multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause ... mortality among participants in the regular (>4 times/week) relative to none/rare intake were 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66 to 0.90)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Dose
>4 times/week
Meta-analysis evaluating the impact of chili-pepper intake on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: A systematic review.
- 2021-10
- Review
- Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) 70
- - Naser Yamani
  - Adeena Musheer
  - Priyanka Gosain
  - Saba Sarfraz
  - Humera Qamar
  - Muhammad Maaz Waseem
  - Muhammad Sameer Arshad
  - Talal Almas
  - Vincent Figueredo
- PubMed: 34603712
- DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2021.102774
4 Insights on
- Reduced All-Cause Mortality
- Low evidence
Pooled analysis found reduced all-cause mortality in CP consumers compared to nonconsumers with a risk ratio (RR) of 0.75 [95% CI: 0.64-0.88; p = 0.0004; I 2 = 97%].
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes

Chili Pepper and Reduced All-Cause Mortality

Chili pepper intake and all-cause and disease-specific mortality.

Chili Pepper Consumption and Mortality in Italian Adults.

Meta-analysis evaluating the impact of chili-pepper intake on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: A systematic review.