What Vitamins are in Cayenne Peppers?

Cayenne pepper, or Capsicum frutescen, has been used for thousands of years in cooking and medicine. A well-known spice, it is often called "chili," the Aztec word for cayenne pepper. Commonly employed in herbal medicine to improve circulation and ease chronic pain, it also contains measurable levels of vitamins C, E and a few in the B complex.

Vitamin C

• Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that's essential for good health. It cannot be stored in the body, however, which means it must be obtained from outside sources on a regular basis. Its main function is assisting in the synthesis of collagen, an important element in ligaments, blood vessels, bones, tendons, cartilage and connective tissues separating skeletal and smooth muscle cells.
  Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant and promotes healthy cell development, normal tissue growth and repair, and helps absorb calcium. Severe deficiencies in this essential vitamin result in the disease scurvy.
  One teaspoon of dried cayenne pepper contains 1.4mg of vitamin C. Dietary Reference Intakes (formerly known as Recommended Daily Allowances) provided by the United States Department of Agriculture for vitamin C vary depending on age and sex. For adult males between the ages of 19 and 30, a minimum of 90mg per day are recommended; for females in the same age bracket, it's 75mg per day. Cayenne pepper is commonly used in small amounts, but any level of vitamins is beneficial.

Vitamin E

• According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin E is a "collective name for a group of fat soluble compounds with distinctive antioxidant activities." In simpler terms, vitamin E is a fat-soluble, antioxidant vitamin.
  The reason antioxidants are so important is that they protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals, in turn, are thought to contribute to heart disease and cancer, among other conditions. Research of vitamin E has produced promising evidence that the vitamin may be helpful in preventing and treating a variety of diseases, such as macular degeneration, cataract of the eye and cognitive decline (including Alzheimer's disease).
  One teaspoon of dried cayenne pepper contains 0.54mg of vitamin E. The Dietary Reference Intake for both males and females between the ages of 19 and 30 is 15mg per day.
  Proper allowances depend on age, and those wishing to supplement with vitamin E should make sure to research amounts appropriate for them at the USDA website. One possible risk of overdosing is hemorrhage.

B-Complex

• B vitamins are the only water-soluble vitamins other than vitamin C. They include B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12, otherwise known as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine group, biotin, folic acid and the cobalamins.
  Like vitamin C, excess B vitamins are excreted from the body and must be replenished on a regular basis. They have been used in association with the following conditions: wound healing, canker sores, acne rosacea, alcohol withdrawal, athletic performance, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), hives, indigestion, heartburn, osteoporosis, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), tardive dyskinesia and vitiligo.
  Cayenne pepper contains niacin, riboflavin, thiamin and the pyridoxine group (B6).
  One teaspoon has 0.157mg of niacin, 0.017mg of riboflavin, 0.006mg of thiamin and 0.044mg of B6. The Dietary Reference Intakes are as follows for females and males ages 19 to 30. Niacin: females 14mg per day, males 16mg per day; riboflavin: females 1.1mg per day, males 1.3mg per day; thiamin: females 1.2mg per day, males: 1.1mg per day; pyridoxine group (B6): females and males 1.3mg per day.