Cinnamon Improves Diabetes Markers

Whereas almost 24 million Americans live with diabetes, the number of people affected by the disease is predicted to vastly increase, as a result of the aging population. Previous research has suggested that active compounds in cinnamon may improve markers associated with diabetes. Yan Chen, from Chinese Academy of Sciences (China), and colleagues enrolled 66 type-2 diabetics, to receive a water extract of cinnamon at 120 mg a day, 360 mg a day, are placebo, for a three month period. The team found that fasting blood glucose levels was reduced by an average of 1.01 mmol/L  in the subjects receiving 120 mg of cinnamon extract, and by 1.62 mmol/L in the group receiving 360 mg; no change was observed in the placebo group. As well, blood triglyceride levels decreased by 0.78 mmol/L in the subjects receiving 120 mg of cinnamon extract.   The study authors conclude that: “our study indicates that cinnamon supplementation is able to significantly improve blood glucose control in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.”