ClinicalTrials.gg
Status unknownNCT03132142Updated Apr 27, 2017

Desensitization of Nociceptive Afferents by Application of Topical Capsaicin, Trans-cinnamaldehyde and L-menthol

An interventional study of Capsaicin and Trans-cinnamaldehyde in Pain, Pruritus and Neuropathic Pain, sponsored by Aalborg University. Status unknown at 1 site in Denmark. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2017-04-27.

Sponsored by Aalborg University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Apr 2017), so the status shown — last known as Recruiting — may be out of date.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
22
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 60 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential desensitising effects of repeated applications of capsaicin, trans-cinnamaldehyde and L-menthol on thermal, mechanical and chemical sensory stimulations.

Read the detailed description

Capsaicin, the compound responsible for the pungency of chili peppers, can induce desensitization to nociceptive (1) and pruriceptive (2) stimuli when topically applied. The purpose of this study is to determine whether repeated topical applications of trans-cinnamaldehyde and L-menthol result in decreased responses to various nociceptive and non-nociceptive thermal and mechanical stimuli and to compare potential alterations with those caused by repeated topical application of capsaicin. Furthermore, this study investigates the temporal profile of said alterations.

Capsaicin 8% patches, trans-cinnamaldehyde 10%, L-menthol 40% and inert vehicle patches will each be applied to 4 4x4 cm predefined areas on the skin of the volar forearms for 1 hour 4 times on 4 consecutive days. Before each application and the day after the last application, cold detection threshold (CDT), warmth detection threshold (WDT), cold pain threshold (CPT) and heat pain threshold (HPT) will be assessed using a Medoc Pathway (Medoc, Israel) equipped with a 3x3 cm contact thermode. On the last day, mechanical detection threshold (MDT) is assessed using a series of von Frey filaments and mechanical pain threshold (MPT) and mechanical pain sensitivity (MPS) is assessed using a series of standardized pinprick stimulators (Aalborg University).

Furthermore, full-field laser perfusion imaging (FLPI) will be used to assess the degree of neurogenic inflammation in each predefined area before and after each substance application and at the last session.

  1. F. Henrich et al. 2015 "Capsaicin-sensitive C- and A-fibre nociceptors control long-term potentiation-like pain amplification in humans"
  2. H.H. Andersen et al. 2017 "Antipruritic effect of pretreatment with 8% topical capsaicin on histamine- and cowhage-evoked itch in healthy volunteers - a randomized placebo-blinded proof-of-concept trial"
02

Conditions studied

  • Pain
  • Pruritus
  • Neuropathic Pain
  • Dermatology/Skin - Other
03

In context

Pain

2,450 studies on the registry are indexed under Pain; 945 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 22 is below the median of 70 across 2,101 interventional studies indexed under Pain.

Browse Pain studies →

Lead sponsor

Aalborg University is the lead sponsor of 182 studies on the registry; 38 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 60 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy
  • Speaks and understands English or Danish
  • 18-60 years

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy or lactation
  • Drug addiction
  • Previous or current dermatological, neurological, musculoskeletal or mental illnesses
  • Lack of ability to cooperate
  • Current use of medications that may affect the trial
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Enrollment
22 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Capsaicin

    Capsacin (8%) patches applied topically 4 times for 1 hour to a 4x4 cm predefined area on the skin of the volar forearms.

    Drug: Capsaicin

  • Experimental
    Trans-cinnamaldehyde

    Trans-cinnamaldehyde (10%, dissolved in 90% ethanol) applied topically 4 times for 1 hour to a 4x4 cm predefined area on the skin of the volar forearms on a cotton ball placed in a plastic chamber to limit evaporation.

    Drug: Trans-cinnamaldehyde

  • Experimental
    L-menthol

    L-menthol (40%, dissolved in 96% ethanol) applied topically 4 times for 1 hour to a 4x4 cm predefined area on the skin of the volar forearms on a cotton ball placed in a plastic chamber to limit evaporation.

    Drug: L-Menthol

  • Placebo comparator
    Vehicle patch

    Inert vehicle patches applied topically 4 times for 1 hour to a 4x4 cm predefined area on the skin of the volar forearms.

    Drug: Vehicle patch

Interventions

  • 4x4 cm patch of 8% topical capsaicin applied to the skin of the volar forearm for 1 hour 4 times on 4 consecutive days

  • DrugTrans-cinnamaldehyde

    1mL of 10% trans-cinnamaldehyde applied to the skin of the volar forearm for 1 hour 4 times on 4 consecutive days

  • DrugL-Menthol

    Drug pages: Levomenthol · Menthol

    1mL of 40% L-menthol applied to the skin of the volar forearm for 1 hour 4 times on 4 consecutive days

  • DrugVehicle patch

    Inert vehicle patch applied to the skin of the volar forearm for 1 hour 4 times on 4 consecutive days

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Cold Pain Threshold (CPT)

    The pain threshold for cold stimulation assessed using a Medoc Pathway (Medoc, Israel) equipped with a 3x3 cm thermode. CPT is defined as the temperature at which cold induces pain and is expressed in °C.

    Time frame: Assessed at 5 visits on 5 consecutive days

  2. Heat Pain Threshold (HPT)

    The pain threshold for heat stimulation

    Time frame: Assessed at 5 visits on 5 consecutive days

Secondary outcomes

  1. Neurogenic Inflammation Intensity

    The average intensity of the neurogenic inflammation as assessed by full-field laser perfusion imaging (FLPI) (expressed in arbitrary units)

    Time frame: Assessed before and after application of substances at 5 visits on 5 consecutive days

  2. Neurogenic Inflammation Area

    The area of the neurogenic inflammation as assessed by full-field laser perfusion imaging (FLPI) (expressed in arbitrary units)

    Time frame: Assessed before and after application of substances at 5 visits on 5 consecutive days

  3. Pain During Application of Capsaicin

    Pain during the 60 minute application of topical capsaicin as rated on a visual analog scale (VAS) (0-10)

    Time frame: Assessed every 5 minutes during the 60 minute application of capsaicin at 4 visits on 4 consecutive days

  4. Pain During Application of Trans-cinnamaldehyde

    Pain during the 60 minute application of trans-cinnamaldehyde as rated on a visual analog scale (VAS) (0-10)

    Time frame: Assessed every 5 minutes during the 60 minute application of trans-cinnamaldehyde at 4 visits on 4 consecutive days

  5. Pain During Application of L-menthol

    Pain during the 60 minute application of L-menthol as rated on a visual analog scale (VAS) (0-10)

    Time frame: Assessed every 5 minutes during the 60 minute application of L-menthol at 4 visits on 4 consecutive days

  6. Pain During Application of Inert Patch (Control)

    Pain during the 60 minute application of the inert patch (control) as rated on a visual analog scale (VAS) (0-10)

    Time frame: Assessed every 5 minutes during the 60 minute application of the inert patch (control) at 4 visits on 4 consecutive days

  7. Cold Detection Threshold (CDT)

    The detection threshold for cold stimulation assessed using a Medoc Pathway (Medoc, Israel) equipped with a 3x3 cm thermode. CDT is defined as the temperature at which cold can be detected and is expressed in °C.

    Time frame: Assessed at 5 visits on 5 consecutive days

  8. Warmth Detection Threshold (WDT)

    The detection threshold for warmth stimulation assessed using a Medoc Pathway (Medoc, Israel) equipped with a 3x3 cm thermode. WDT is defined as the temperature at which warmth can be detected and is expressed in °C.

    Time frame: Assessed at 5 visits on 5 consecutive days

  9. Mechanical Detection Threshold (MDT)

    The detection threshold for mechanical stimulation is defined as the smallest force that can be felt and is assessed using a series of standardized von Frey filaments and using the "method of limits" employing a series of stimulations with ascending and descending force expressed in mN.

    Time frame: Assessed at day 5 (final visit)

  10. Mechanical Pain Threshold (MPT)

    The pain threshold for mechanical stimulation is defined as the smallest force that induces pain and is assessed using a series of standardized pinprick stimulators (Aalborg University) and using the "method of limits" employing a series of stimulations with ascending and descending forces expressed in mN.

    Time frame: Assessed at day 5 (final visit)

  11. Mechanical Pain Sensitivity (MPS)

    The sensitivity to mechanically induced pain induced by a series of 7 standardized pinprick stimulators (Aalborg University) as rated on a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0-10 with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing the worst pain imaginable.

    Time frame: Assessed at day 5 (final visit)

  12. Vibration Detection Threshold

    The detection threshold for vibrational stimulation assessed using a Vibrameter (Somedic, Sweden).

    Time frame: Assessed at day 5 (final visit)

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • SMI
    Aalborg, 9000, Denmark
    • Hjalte H Andersen, MSc. Med. · Contact · hha@hst.aau.dk · 0045 24464515
    • Jens B Marker, BSc. Med. · Sub investigator
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Start is estimated for Apr 2017; primary completion for Aug 2017, 4 months later.

Of 1,253 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Pain, half reached primary completion within 11 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 29. This study's planned 4 months is below that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 1,276 studies reached it within 11 months; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 30.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Apr 25, 2017
First posted
Apr 27, 2017
StartEst.
Apr 2017
Primary completionEst.
Aug 2017
CompletionEst.
Aug 2017
Last update
Apr 27, 2017
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 27, 2017, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03132142
Lead sponsor
Aalborg University
Responsible party
Hjalte Holm Andersen (MSc. Med., Phd. Stud., Aalborg University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Apr 27, 2017
Start date
Apr 2017 (estimated)
Primary completion
Aug 2017 (estimated)
Completion
Aug 2017 (estimated)
Last update
Apr 27, 2017

Study contacts

Lars Arendt-Nielsen, Professor
Contact
lan@hst.aau.dk
0045 99408830

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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Studies of the drugs tested here: Capsaicin · Levomenthol · Menthol

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