Cinnamon: a miracle spice for diabetics?

More research on the benefits of cinnamon confirm that the common kitchen spice can be helpful for people with diabetes.

In a large review study, researchers found that cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels - thanks to a compound in the spice called cinnamaldehydein.

The study

Analyzing data from 10 randomized trials, 543 patients with type 2 diabetes were examined. The researchers compared people who took cinnamon in pill form - in doses ranging from 120 mg to 6 grams per day for four to 18 weeks - to people who did not take cinnamon at all.

People who took cinnamon supplements showed lower fasting plasma glucose levels compared with people who didn't take the supplements.

Heart benefits

But cinnamon not only improves blood sugar stabilization, the study found. Results also showed that this healing spice can increase HBD "good" cholesterol levels while lowering total cholesterol, LDL "bad" cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

“When we combined the results of all the trials, we found that in patients with type 2 diabetes, there was a benefit on blood glucose and cholesterol levels,” said study researcher Olivia Phung, an assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif.

Researchers suspect that cinnamaldehydein can help stimulate the release and effect of insulin, which gives cinnamon its diabetes-fighting power.

According to WebMD, people with liver problems should be careful taking cinnamon supplements, as large amounts of the spice can be problematic.

The study was published in The Annals of Family Medicine.

Source: LiveScience