Evidence of Cinnamon's Benefits for Diabetes

By Diane Fennell In the past, we've written about the possible health benefits of cinnamon for people with diabetes, and comments from our readers have indicated that many find this spice to be a useful addition to their diabetes management regimen. Now a new meta-analysis (a review of data from several clinical trials) has found further evidence supporting the benefits of cinnamon for people with diabetes. Various studies have investigated the benefits of cinnamon for those who have diabetes, but these trials have generally been small and have shown conflicting results. Some research, however, has indicated that the spice increases insulin sensitivity and promotes insulin release. To evaluate the use of cinnamon on blood glucose and blood fat levels, researchers looked at 10 randomized, controlled trials that included a total of 543 participants. Eight of the trials, with a total of 499 participants, reported HbA1c levels (a measure of glucose control over the previous 2–3 months). Nine of the studies, with a total of 464 participants, included information on fasting glucose levels. At least eight of the studies included data on levels of total cholesterol, LDL (“bad") cholesterol, HDL (“good") cholesterol, and triglycerides (a type of blood fat). Participants in the research were randomized to receive either placebo (inactive treatment) or cinnamon extract or raw cinnamon powder in doses ranging from 120 milligrams a day to 6 grams a day. All of the...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - Category: Diabetes Authors: Source Type: blogs