Capsaicin an Acid or Base?

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Q: Dave,

Is capsaicin an acid or a base? Someone told me it was a base, but when I drink acidic drinks (soda, etc.) it seems to burn more instead of neutralizing it, whereas if it was a base the acid should help take away the sting.

Mike

Hello Mike:

Capsaicin is a base, but the capsaicin receptors in the mouth bind to the capsaicin and cannot be stripped away by acids but rather by the protein casein in dairy products.

Dave

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