Cinnamon, the bark of an evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka, is a pungent sweet-tasting spice with a long and rich history in the spice trade. Cinnamon was so highly valued that it was often traded by the Arabs for gold or silver. Modern research has revealed considerable health benefits of this now commonly available spice. In particular, cinnamon has been shown to improve blood sugar control in several ways.
Insulin Resistance
Cinnamon improved glucose intolerance and insulin resistance due to sleep loss in a study conducted by the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Lack of sleep has been shown to result in similar blood sugar and insulin profiles to those seen in patients with type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon promotes healthy glucose levels by promoting insulin sensitivity and glucose transport into muscle cells and may be useful for controlling insulin resistance that results from sleep deprivation. The study was published in the June 2009 issue of the "Journal of Medicinal Food."
Antioxidants
Cinnamon contains chromium and polyphenol antioxidants that improve insulin sensitivity, say researchers of a study published in the February 2008 issue of the journal "Proceedings of the Nutrition Society." Chromium has been used to improve symptoms of metabolic syndrome -- a combination of conditions that increases risk for cardiovascular disease -- such as fasting glucose, insulin and cholesterol levels. Cinnamon polyphenols improve insulin sensitivity and reduce fasting blood sugar by up to 29 percent and low density lipoprotein, LDL, the bad form of cholesterol, by as much as 27 percent in patients with type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon also promotes lean body mass and lowers blood pressure.
Rapid Effect
Researchers at the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham in Birmingham, United Kingdom, demonstrated that cinnamon acts rapidly to improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity in a study on healthy young adult males. In the study, 5 g of cinnamon taken with or 12 hours before an oral glucose-tolerance test reduced the blood sugar spike in response to the glucose ingestion by 10 percent and 13 percent, respectively. Researchers concluded that cinnamon was effective immediately and showed sustained benefits over a 12-hour period. The study was published in the November 2007 issue of the journal "Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism."
Insulin-like Effects
Blood sugar-controlling benefits of cinnamon include insulin-like activity, according to a study published in the January 2004 issue of the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry." Polyphenol antioxidant extracts promote insulin's activity and increase glucose metabolism by as much as 20 percent. These compounds may be useful in controlling blood sugar and managing glucose intolerance and diabetes. The study was conducted at the United States Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Requirements and Functions Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center.
References
- "Journal of Medicinal Food"; Cassia Cinnamon for the Attenuation of Glucose Intolerance and Insulin Resistance Resulting from Sleep Loss; J. Jitomir, et al.; June 2009
- "Proceedings of the Nutrition Society"; Chromium and Polyphenols from Cinnamon Improve Insulin Sensitivity; R. Anderson, et al.; February 2008
- "Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism"; Effects of Short-term Cinnamon Ingestion on in Vivo Glucose Tolerance; T. Solomon, et al.; November 2007
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry"; Isolation and Characterization of Polyphenol Type-A Polymers from Cinnamon with Insulin-like Biological Activity; R. Anderson, et al.; January 2004
- "The Cinnamon Stick: Tales of the Spice Trade"; Letta Meinen; 2002
