Sweetly Improving Sugars? Reviewing Cinnamon's Effects on Blood Glucose
Wesley Nuffer1, Shasta Tall Bull1, Hebat Bakhach1
1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
Journal of Medicinal Food
|October 7, 2022
Summary
Cinnamon may offer modest benefits for glucose control in adults with diabetes, with a favorable safety profile. Further research is needed to clarify its efficacy as an adjunctive therapy.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Cinnamon is widely used by individuals with diabetes to manage blood glucose levels.
- Existing research explores cinnamon's potential to improve glucose handling and its mechanisms of action.
Approach:
- A systematic literature review was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of various cinnamon species on diabetes and glucose metabolism.
- The review synthesized evidence on proposed mechanisms, including enhanced insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, and altered glucose absorption.
Key Points:
- Conflicting evidence exists regarding cinnamon's significant impact on glucose parameters, potentially due to variations in study design, dosage, and patient characteristics.
- Proposed mechanisms include increased insulin sensitivity, anti-inflammatory effects, enhanced glucose uptake, and modulation of gastric emptying and glucose absorption.
- Despite conflicting data, some evidence suggests cinnamon may provide modest glucose-lowering effects in certain adult populations.
Conclusions:
- Cinnamon demonstrates a favorable safety profile with minimal reported adverse events across studies.
- Clinicians may consider cinnamon as a potential complementary therapy for traditional diabetes management.
- Healthcare providers should discuss cinnamon supplementation with interested patients, considering its role alongside conventional treatments.
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