Effectiveness of Cinnamon for Lowering Hemoglobin A1C in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Abstract

Purpose: Multiple trials in the past have shown conflicting results of whether cinnamon lowers glucose or hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C). The purpose of this study was to determine whether cinnamon lowers HbA1C in patients with type 2 diabetes. I performed a randomized, controlled trial to evaluate whether daily cinnamon plus usual care versus usual care alone lowers HbA1c.Methods: I randomized 109 type 2 diabetics (HbA1C >7.0) from 3 primary care clinics caring for pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients at a United States military base. Participants were randomly allocated to either usual care with management changes by their primary care physician or usual care with management changes plus cinnamon capsules, 1g daily for 90 days. HbA1c was drawn at baseline and 90 days and compared with intention-to-treat analysis. This study was approved by an institutional review board.Results As the worldwide incidence of diabetes increases, the search for dietary adjuncts to treat this lifealtering disease has become far ranging. Cinnamon is purported to be a natural insulin sensitizer, with adverse events of perioral dermatitis and stomatitis reported uncommonly with high intake.1 Both in vitro and in vivo animal studies have shown that cinnamon is an insulin sensitizer. found that polyphenols from cinnamon inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products in bovine serum albumin. To date, 5 randomized trials studying cinnamon in humans with type 2 diabetes have been published, with conflicting results. 6 -10 The results of these studies are mixed, and it is unclear whether any of them were conducted among primary care populations. Two of these studies showed a possible effect of cinnamon on fasting serum glucose, but they did not examine hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels. One study showed no effect on plasma glucose. Two studies-one each done with patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes-showed no effect of cinnamon on HbA1C (Table 1). A meta-analysis of these studies in divergent populations measuring different parameters showed no effect of cinnamon on HbA1C, glucose, or lipids. 11This trial strove to replicate the conditions found in primary care, where patients often have medication changes, comorbid conditions, and dietary changes. As such, it was not an efficacy trial with every variable controlled. It attempted to determine whether the intervention of taking cinnamon lowers HbA1C. Effectiveness trials such as this are critical in determining if the interventions This article was externally peer reviewed.

Hydro-Alcoholic Cinnamon Extract, Enhances Glucose Transporter Isotype-4 Translocation from Intracellular Compartments into the Cytoplasmic Membrane of C2C12 Myotubes

“…Also Deng et al [34] have shown that resveratrol, an ingredient of Polygonum cuspidatum and red wine did enhance glucose uptake and GLUT4 movement to the CM in C2C12 myotubes. However, other in vivo, ex vivo studies and human trials which have been explored antidiabetic effect or mechanism by which cinnamon exert antidiabetic effect all are in accordance with our study results [14,16,[35][36][37][38]. But studies for cinnamon effect on the GLUT4 transcription and/or its intracellular movement in conjunction to signaling pathways are rare and the mechanism of its components is under investigation.…”

Plant derived therapeutics for the treatment of Metabolic Syndrome

“…In a randomized, uncontrolled trial of patients (n = 109) with diabetes who were on a diet and exercise regimen, treatment with cinnamon (1 g) for 90 days lowered HbA1c levels in the test group (0.83%) relative to the control group (0.37%) [9]. The decrease observed was small but statistically significant and, therefore, medically as even small decreases in HbA1c are associated with significant reductions in diabetes comorbidities.…”

The effect of rectal progesterone on latency period as well as maternal and prenatal outcome between 24 to 33 weeks

“…All women will be given a seven-day course of antibiotic prophylaxis, including one dose of oral azithromycin (1 g) upon admission plus intravenous ampicillin (2 g every 6 h) for 48 hours, followed by oral amoxicillin (500 mg every 8 h or 875 mg every 12 h) for the remaining five days, 26,27 and all patients will receive a full course of steroids for fetal lung maturation. After completing their stay in the labor and delivery area, patients will be transferred to the high-risk floor.…”