The polyphenols found in cinnamon, or Cinnamomon cassia, improve insulin sensitivity. According to The American Dietetic Association, some studies suggest that cinnamon may help to lower blood sugar levels. However, no study conclusively proves that cinnamon lowers blood sugar in all individuals.
Why Cinnamon?
Barbara Wexler, in her book "Cinnamon: Spices of Life," states that cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant, improves memory and helps to relieve anxiety and depression. It also aids in digestive disorders and can help to lower blood sugar. Wexler also states that cinnamon has a polymer, methyl-hidroxy-chalcone, that increases metabolism in fat cells twenty fold. In this way, it improves how sugar is processed, hence the reduction in its levels.
Studies
Studies conducted by Thames Valley University in London, the Department of Agriculture and Food Sciences in Zurich found that the intake of 6g cinnamon with rice pudding reduced postprandial blood glucose and delayed gastric emptying without affecting satiety. In addition, the intake of 1, 3, or 6 g of cinnamon per day reduced glucose and lipids in people with type 2 diabetes. The inclusion of cinnamon in the diet of people with type 2 diabetes also reduced risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Conflicting Results
In 2007, the journal "Diabetes Care," published a study using 1 to 6 grams of cinnamon as a parameter, that didn't show any improvements in fasting blood sugar, lipid parameters or A1C, a type of hemoglobin that is a good measure of blood sugar. Factors such as the population of the test subjects could have affected the results.
Diabetics and Non-Diabetics
Most of the studies conducted have studied diabetic test subjects. The reductions seen in diabetic individuals may not offer sufficient evidence to prove that cinnamon lowers the level of blood sugar in your body. Non-diabetic individuals may, therefore, not benefit from lowered blood sugar. However, diabetics and non-diabetics will find benefit from other positive aspects of cinnamon consumption.
References
- NCBI; Additive Postprandial Blood Glucose-Attenuating and Satiety-Enhancing Effect of Cinnamon and Acetic Acid; Mettler S Schwarz; October 2009
- NCBI; Glycated Haemoglobin and Blood Pressure-Lowering Effect of Cinnamon in Multi-Ethnic Type 2 Diabetic Patients in the UK; R Akilen; October 2010
- NCBI; The Potential of Cinnamon to Reduce Blood Glucose Levels in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance; S Kirkham; December 2009
- Cinnamon: Spices of Life; Barbara Wexler; 2008
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; Effect of Cinnamon on Postprandial Blood Glucose, Gaastric Emptying and Satiety in Healthy Subjects; June 2007
- International Society of Sports Nutrition; Effects of a Water-Soluble Cinnamon Extract on Body Composition an dFeatures of the Metabolic Syndrome in Pre-Diabetic Men and Women; 2006
