Analgesic topical capsaicinoid therapy increases somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the human plasma

• We have determined the capsaicinoid content of EMSPOMA® cream by LC–MS/MS.
• Nonivamide (0.01%) was identified as the only capsaicinoid molecule in the cream.
• Local nonivamide treatment exerts analgesic action in chronic low back pain.
• Nonivamide treatment causes threefold elevation in the plasma level of SST-LI.
• Somatostatin may play role in the pain-relieving effect.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of local capsaicinoid (EMSPOMA® cream) treatment on chronic low back pain in patients with degenerative spine diseases and to investigate the possible mechanism of action of the therapy.The qualitative and quantitative analyses of capsaicinoids in EMSPOMA® cream were performed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). In the clinical study 20 patients with degenerative spine diseases were involved in a self-controlled examination. During the 21 day therapy they received 30 min daily treatment with capsaicinoid (EMSPOMA®) cream to the lumbar region of the back. The pain (VASs, Oswestry Disability Index) and the mobility of the lumbar region of the spine (Schober's, Domján's L and R test) were detected at baseline and at the end of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd weeks. The plasma level of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SST-LI) was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) before and after the treatment on the first and the last day of the therapy.Nonivamide (0.01%) was identified as the only capsaicinoid molecule in the cream. In the clinical study the 21 day local nonivamide treatment reduced the pain sensation. Oswestry Disability Index decreased from 39 ± 3.9% to 32.5 ± 4.4%. VASs showed 37.29%–59.51% improvement. In the plasma level of SST-LI threefold elevation was observed after the first nonivamide treatment.We conclude that nonivamide treatment exerts analgesic action in chronic low back pain and causes the release of the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory neuropeptide somatostatin which may play pivotal role in the pain-relieving effect.