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Double-blind Trial of Mannitol Cream to Block the Effect of Capsaicin Cream

Double-blind Trial of Mannitol Cream to Block the Effect of Capsaicin Cream

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01963910
Acronym
LipTRP
Enrollment
25
Registered
2013-10-16
Start date
2013-12-31
Completion date
2014-01-31
Last updated
2014-03-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Pain

Keywords

Mannitol, TRPV1 receptor, Pain, Burning pain, neuropathy, neuropathic pain

Brief summary

Capsaicin is a TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1) agonist, causing pain upon application. The investigators wish to determine whether mannitol blocks the effect of capsaicin application. As both cream bases are identical and mannitol addition is the only difference between the creams, if the mannitol cream is more effective in blocking the effect of capsaicin on the TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1) receptor, the investigators will have established that mannitol down-regulates or blocks the TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1) receptor.

Detailed description

Capsaicin cream, which stimulates the TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1) receptor, causing a burning sensation, will be applied to both halves of the upper lip until a burning sensation with 8/10 intensity on an NRS (Visual Analog Scale) scale is experienced or five minutes have elapsed. Following this, the capsaicin cream will be wiped off and 30% mannitol in vehicle cream ( isopropyl palmitate, caprylic capric triglyceride, propylene glycol, ceteareth 20, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, polyethylene glycol 100 stearate, dimethicone, octyldodecanol, lecithin, ethylhexyl glycerin and phenoxy ethanol) will be applied to one half of the upper lip, and vehicle cream alone will be applied to the other half. Cream assignment will be randomized and neither the subject nor the person applying the cream will know which half upper lip has which cream. Every minute for 10 minutes, the heat sensation felt in each half upper lip will be measured, using a visual scale from 0 to 10. A repeated measures analysis of variance will compare the NRS (Visual Analog Scale) scores from the 30% mannitol cream, to the NRS (Visual Analog Scale)scores from the vehicle cream. Significance will be accepted if P less than .05.

Interventions

DRUG30% Mannitol in vehicle cream

applied to one half of the upper lip following removal of capsaicin cream.

DRUGvehicle cream

application to the other half of the upper lip following capsaicin cream removal

Sponsors

University of British Columbia
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
19 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Age between 19 and 80 years

Exclusion criteria

* Diet containing capsaicin (Cayenne pepper, capsicum) (spicy foods), more than once a week. * Meal containing capsaicin (spicy foods) within 5 days prior to the experiment. * Any lesion, cracking, cold sore or abrasion on the lips * Inability to tolerate capsaicin containing spicy foods * Wearing lipstick or lip balm on the upper lip * Inability to fill out an NRS pain scale * Use of painkilling medication, within 24 hours of the study. * Allergy to any of the ingredients of the creams, or to mannitol * History of contact or allergic dermatitis * Pregnant or nursing women

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
NRS heat score, once per minute15 minutes per subjectEvery minute after capsaicin cream application, subject will indicate NRS (numerical rating scale)heat score. When the score has reached 8/10 or after five minutes, the cream will be removed. The time needed to reach 8/10 heat score and the heat score achieved, or the score at five minutes will be recorded. Following application of the test creams, NRS (Visual Analog Scale) heat scores will be recorded once per minute for each side for 10 minutes.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Side effects of capsaicin cream on upper lipOne hourThe subject will be observed for redness, swelling, or other side effects following the capsaicin cream application. These side effects will be recorded

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Side effects of test creamsone hourThe subjects will be observed for side effects of the mannitol cream or the vehicle cream

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026