Scientists from Joslin Diabetes Center found that cinnamon improves blood sugar control in people with prediabetes and could slow the progression to type 2 diabetes.
The research is published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society and was conducted by Giulio R. Romeo et al.
Prediabetes means your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
Prediabetes usually occurs in people who already have some insulin resistance or whose beta cells in the pancreas aren’t making enough insulin to keep blood glucose in the normal range.
Without enough insulin, extra glucose stays in your bloodstream rather than entering your cells. Over time, you could develop type 2 diabetes.
People with a high risk of type 2 diabetes need safe, durable, and cost-effective approaches to reduce the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes.
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus Cinnamomum.
Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavoring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savory dishes, breakfast cereals, snack foods, teas, and traditional foods.
Previous research has found that cinnamon has an anti-viral effect, may support gut health, may help manage blood pressure, may lower blood sugar, and may benefit the aging brain.
But it is unknown whether cinnamon’s blood-sugar-lowering properties can benefit people with prediabetes.
In the current study, researchers aimed to examine the effects of cinnamon on blood sugar control in prediabetes.
They assigned 54 adults with prediabetes to receive cinnamon 500 mg or placebo thrice daily Participants were enrolled and followed for 12 weeks.
The team examined the between-group difference in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) at 12 weeks before the study.
The team found that before the study the two groups of people had similar blood sugar levels. But blood sugar rose after 12 weeks with a placebo and remained stable with cinnamon. This led to a between-group difference of 5 mg/dL.
Cinnamon, but not placebo, led to a big decrease in the AUC PG and of the 2-hour PG of the OGTT. There were no serious adverse effects in either group.
Based on the findings, the researchers suggest that in people with prediabetes, 12 weeks of cinnamon supplementation improved FPG and glucose tolerance, and this is a safe method.
They suggest longer and larger studies should further examine cinnamon’s effects on the risk of progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes.
If you care about blood sugar, please read studies that drinking high-protein milk at breakfast may lower blood sugar throughout the day, and a new way to reverse high blood sugar and muscle loss.
For more information about blood sugar health, please see recent studies that blackcurrants may help lower your blood sugar after a meal, and results show checking blood sugar using sweat, not blood.
