Cinnamon and Glycemic Control

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Cinnamon and Glycemic Control
TR
 
Cinnamon has been said to help with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by aiding in glycemic control. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that an HbA1c level of greater than or equal to 6.5 or a FPG level of 7.0 mmol is indicative of diabetes. Cinnamon bark oil has been used for centuries to treat a host of different conditions. It has been suggested that cinnamon activates the insulin receptor by increasing auto phosphorylation of the receptor, increasing glucose transporter 4 receptor synthesis and activation, inhibits amylase and glucosidase, increases glycogen synthesis in the liver, thus improving insulin sensitivity, and glycemic control. A meta-analysis was done on 11 studies that looked at cinnamons effects of HbA1c and FPG levels. Cinnamon doses in these studies ranged from 120-6000 mg/day. All of the studies had to meet specific inclusion criteria. The studies were found from an extensive search on PubMed. There were reductions in the FPG during the cinnamon intervention. The few studies that looked at HbA1c (a better predictor for glycemic control), noted that there were only moderate decreases as compared to the group receiving the placebo. Only 4 out of the 11 studies had lab values that met the criteria from the ADA (FPG <7.2 mmol/L and/or HbA1c <7.0). When the cinnamon was added with a hypoglycemic medication and other lifestyle adjustments were made there were modest effects in the lab values. Due to these results, it is not recommended that RD’s use cinnamon alone as a treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. It is recommended that the patient continues using their medications and following certain lifestyle changes.


Do Cinnamon Supplements Have a Role in Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes? A Narrative Review
Costello, Rebecca B. et al.
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics , Volume 116 , Issue 11 , 1794 - 1802

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