Cinnamon Helps Type 2 Diabetes
Also Helps Cholesterol -- But More Than A Sprinkle Required
By Jeanie Lerche Davis
WebMD Medical News
Dec. 5, 2003 -- A spicy tip: Cinnamon can improve glucose and cholesterol
levels in the blood. For people with type 2 diabetes, and those fighting high
cholesterol, it's important information.
Researchers have long speculated that foods, especially spices, could help
treat diabetes. In lab studies, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, and turmeric have
all shown promise in enhancing insulin's action, writes researcher Alam Khan,
PhD, with the NWFP Agricultural University in Peshawar, Pakistan. His study
appears in the December issue of Diabetes Care.
Botanicals such as cinnamon can improve glucose metabolism and the overall
condition of individuals with diabetes -- improving cholesterol metabolism,
removing artery-damaging free radicals from the blood, and improving function
of small blood vessels, he explains. Onions, garlic, Korean ginseng, and
flaxseed have the same effect.
In fact, studies with rabbits and rats show that fenugreek, curry, mustard
seeds, and coriander have cholesterol-improving effects.
But this is the first study to actually pin down the effects of cinnamon,
writes Kahn. Studies have shown that cinnamon extracts can increase glucose
metabolism, triggering insulin release -- which also affects cholesterol
metabolism. Researchers speculated that cinnamon might improve both cholesterol
and glucose. And it did!
The 60 men and women in Khan's study had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes for an
average of 6 1-2 years but were not yet taking insulin. The participants in his
study had been on antidiabetic drugs that cause an increase in the release of
insulin. Each took either wheat-flour placebo capsules or 500 milligram
cinnamon capsules.
Group 1 took 1 gram (two capsules equaling 1/28 ounce total) for 20 days
Group 2 got 3 grams (six capsules, equaling about 1/8 ounce total)
Group 3 took 6 grams (12 capsules, equaling about 1/4 ounce total)
Blood samples were taken at each level of the study.
Cinnamon made a difference! After 40 days, there were significant reductions in
blood glucose levels in all three groups that took cinnamon, ranging from 18 to
29%. After stopping the cinnamon for 20 days, only the group that consumed the
lowest level of cinnamon continued with significantly improved glucose levels -
group 1. The placebo groups didn't get any significant differences.
Taking more cinnamon also seem to improve the blood levels of fats called
triglycerides. All the patients had better triglyceride levels in their 40-day
tests -- between 23 to 30% reductions. But again, those taking the most
cinnamon had the best levels.
In groups taking cinnamon pills blood cholesterol levels also went down,
ranging from 13 to 26%; LDL cholesterol also known as "bad" cholesterol went
down by 10 to 24% in only the 3- and 6-gram groups after 40 days. Effects on
HDL ("good cholesterol"😉 were minor.
Cinnamon should be part of our daily diet -- whether we have type 2 diabetes or
not, writes Kahn. However, for the best effects, just a sprinkle isn't enough.
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SOURCE: Kahn, A. Diabetes Care. December 2003: vol 26: pp 3215-3218.
© 2003 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.
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