Influence of Cinnamon on Glycemic Control in Individuals With Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Health
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Prediabetes poses a significant risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) development.
• Effective, safe, and cost-efficient interventions to slow prediabetes progression are needed.
• The glucose-lowering potential of cinnamon in prediabetic individuals remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of cinnamon supplementation in improving glucose homeostasis in individuals with prediabetes.
• To assess the impact of cinnamon on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) parameters.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
• 27 adult participants with prediabetes received 500 mg of cinnamon or placebo thrice daily.
• Primary outcome: change in FPG; Secondary outcomes: changes in 2-hour PG and AUC from OGTT.

Main Results:

• Fasting plasma glucose remained stable with cinnamon, while it increased with placebo (mean difference: 5 mg/dL, P < .05).
• Cinnamon significantly reduced both 2-hour PG (P < .05) and AUC PG (P < .001) from baseline.
• No serious adverse events were reported in either group, indicating a favorable safety profile.

Conclusions:

• Twelve weeks of cinnamon supplementation demonstrated significant improvements in FPG and glucose tolerance in prediabetic individuals.
• Cinnamon presents a safe adjunctive option for managing prediabetes.
• Further research with larger cohorts and longer durations is warranted to investigate cinnamon's effect on T2D progression.