Cinnamon is a spice ground from the bark of the cinnamon plant that is native to Indonesia, South America, India and the West Indies. The role of cinnamon and blood sugar is the subject of debate in the diabetes treatment research. MayoClinic.com reports that when taken for 90 consecutive days, cinnamon may positively affect hemoglobin A1C levels, a blood test that evaluates blood sugar control over a period of time. Further research is needed to understand the affect of cinnamon on the body. Talk to your doctor prior to adding a cinnamon supplement to your daily regimen.
Possible Benefits
Preliminary studies indicate that cinnamon may be effective in lowering blood sugar in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. A Swedish study demonstrated lower blood sugar values in people who ate rice pudding with cinnamon, compared to when the same group ate rice pudding without cinnamon added. The Pennington Biomedical Research Center found that cinnamon supplements reduced fasting blood sugar by 18 to 29 percent after a test group took the supplements for 40 days.
Dosage
The dosage of cinnamon supplementation varies from 1 to 6 g per day. Penn State explains that benefits may occur even with the minimum dosage. Pennington Biomedical Research Center found that blood sugar levels were lowered with all doses, though it was not explained whether or not higher doses had more benefit than the lower doses.
Side Effects and Contraindications
Side effects related to cinnamon supplementation are rare. High doses of cinnamon can cause skin irritation, including rashes and rosacea. Cinnamon supplements can also react with other medications. Individuals taking blood thinners such as Coumadin or Heparin should consult with their doctor prior to taking cinnamon supplements. Diabetics should monitor their blood sugar closely because cinnamon may lower their blood sugar below the normal level when combined with other diabetic medications.
Considerations
Cinnamon does show promise in the stabilization of blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. The exact mechanism of action is unknown. Cinnamon may help insulin work with greater efficiency in the body or it may be that the spice slows the stomach from emptying, which in result can lower blood sugar. If you are interested in taking cinnamon to help lower your blood sugar, or for any other reason, talk with your doctor first.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Is it true that cinnamon can lower blood sugar in people who have diabetes?; Maria Collazo-Clavell, M.D.
- Reuters: Spoonful of cinnamon helps blood sugar stay down; June 2007
- Penn State Cooperative Extension: Cinnamon and Blood Sugar; October 2010
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center: Cinnamon; 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Diabetes
- Drugs.com: Cinnamon
