Science builds for cinnamon’s anti-diabetic effects

A Sino-American study looked at the effects of a patented cinnamon extract called CinSulin from Chinese company Tang An Medical to reduce glucose levels in people with insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance occurs when cells become less sensitive to the glucose-lowering effects of insulin, which results in increases in blood levels of glucose. When glucose levels become abnormal (hyperglycemia) type-2 diabetes occurs.

According to findings presented at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Annual Meeting in Anaheim, hyperglycemic subjects receiving daily supplements of the cinnamon extract showed decreased fasting blood levels of glucose of 7.5 percent, compared with 1.6 percent in the placebo group.

“This clinical trial adds to the growing evidence that aqueous cinnamon extract may be beneficial for insulin-resistant populations,”​ said senior researcher Dr Barbara Stoecker from Oklahoma State University.

The study, funded by the USDA-ARS, Tang-An Medical and Oklahoma State, adds to a growing body of research reporting that active compounds in cinnamon may improve parameters associated with diabetes.

With the number of people are affected by diabetes in the EU 25 projected to increase to 26 million by 2030, up from about 19 million currently – or 4 per cent of the total population –approaches to reduce the risk of diabetes are becoming increasing attractive.

The statistics are even more startling in the US, where almost 24 million people live with diabetes, equal to 8 per cent of the population. The total costs are thought to be as much as $174 billion, with $116 billion being direct costs from medication, according to 2005-2007 American Diabetes Association figures.

Study details​

Dr Stoecker and her co-workers recruited 137 hyperglycemic patients with an average age of 61 to participate in their double-blind, placebo controlled study. Participants were randomly assigned to receive placebo or a 500 milligram daily dose of the cinnamon extract for two months.

Results showed that fasting glucose levels decreased from an average of 8.85 to 8.19 mmol/L in the cinnamon group, while the placebo group experienced a decrease from 8.57 to 8.44 mmol/L.

Furthermore, blood sugar levels two hours after a carbohydrate-rich meal decreased by 12 percent following cinnamon supplementation, compared to only 3.1 percent in the placebo group.

The data was presented as part of the scientific program of the American Society for Nutrition at the Experimental Biology 2010 meeting in Anaheim. NutraIngredients has not seen the full data.

The ingredient is distributed in the US by A.M. Todd Botanical Therapeutics.

Cinnamon and diabetes​

Despite numerous studies championing the role of cinnamon for diabetes management, a recent meta-analysis questioned the potential benefits of cinnamon for type 2 diabetes. The analysis considered only five randomised placebo-controlled trials involving 282 subjects, and found no significant benefits of cinnamon supplement on glycated haemoglobin (A1C), fasting blood glucose (FBG), or other lipid parameters.

The Scandinavian researchers make reference to the potential in diabetes, while also acknowledging the meta-analysis results. “Clearly, a long-term clinical trial involving a larger number of diabetes patients is needed to evaluate the effects of cinnamon supplementation in type 2 diabetes,” wrote Hlebowicz and her co-workers.

Source: FASEB Journal​
2010, Vol. 24:722.1
“Cinnamon extract lowers blood glucose in hyperglycemic subjects”​
Authors: B.J. Stoecker, Z. Zhan, R. Luo, X. Mu, X. Guo, Y. Liu, Q. Guo, J. Zhou, J. Kong, Z. Zhou, B. Cui, R.A. Anderson