Cinnamon is one of the world’s oldest and most popular spices. People have used it for thousands of years in cooking, baking, drinks, and traditional medicine. Many people enjoy its warm flavor in foods like oatmeal, cakes, coffee, and tea.
In recent years, cinnamon has also become popular as a health supplement because some studies suggest it may help control blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and support heart health.
But now researchers are warning that taking too much cinnamon, especially in supplement form, may not always be safe.
Scientists from the University of Mississippi and the National Center for Natural Products Research recently discovered that compounds in cinnamon could interfere with prescription medicines. Their findings were published in the journal Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences.
The researchers focused on cinnamaldehyde, the natural compound that gives cinnamon its strong smell and flavor. They found that cinnamaldehyde can activate certain receptors inside the body. These receptors help control how quickly drugs are broken down and removed from the body.
This becomes important because if medicines leave the body too quickly, they may not work properly. In some cases, this could reduce the effectiveness of important treatments.
Dr. Shabana Khan, one of the lead scientists involved in the study, explained that people may face health risks if they take large amounts of cinnamon supplements without medical advice. According to the researchers, overusing cinnamon supplements might cause prescription drugs to be cleared from the body faster than normal.
This could be especially dangerous for people who depend on daily medicines to manage serious long-term health conditions.
Although cinnamon has been linked to several possible health benefits, scientists still do not fully understand how it behaves inside the human body. More research is needed to learn how cinnamon compounds are absorbed, processed, and how they interact with medications.
The researchers stressed that small amounts of cinnamon used in normal foods are generally safe for most people. Sprinkling cinnamon on coffee, cereal, oatmeal, or desserts is very unlikely to cause any problems.
The main concern involves concentrated cinnamon supplements or very high daily intake.
Dr. Khan said scientists wanted to better understand how cinnamaldehyde affects receptors that control not only medications but also many other substances inside the body. Before this study, very little research had explored these possible interactions.
The study also highlighted an important fact many people do not know: not all cinnamon is the same.
One form is called Cassia cinnamon. This is the cheaper type commonly sold in supermarkets and used in many processed foods. Cassia cinnamon mainly comes from southern China. It contains high levels of coumarin, a natural substance that can thin the blood.
For some people, too much coumarin may become dangerous, especially if they already take blood-thinning medications.
Another type is known as Ceylon cinnamon, often called “true cinnamon.” It mostly comes from Sri Lanka and contains much lower levels of coumarin. Because of this, many experts consider Ceylon cinnamon a safer option for people who regularly consume cinnamon or take medications that affect bleeding.
Dr. Amar Chittiboyina, associate director of the research center, explained that high coumarin intake could create serious risks for people using blood-thinning medicines.
The researchers also pointed out that cinnamon oil appears to carry much lower risk for drug interactions compared to cinnamon bark products. Cinnamon oil is commonly used in foods, drinks, fragrances, and skin products.
Still, the scientists said more studies are necessary before doctors can fully understand how serious the risks may be.
Dr. Bill Gurley, another researcher involved in the project, said current evidence only shows that cinnamaldehyde has the potential to affect drug metabolism. Scientists still need clinical trials involving human volunteers to determine exactly how strong these effects are in real life.
Until more information becomes available, researchers recommend caution, especially for people with chronic health conditions.
This includes people living with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, asthma, obesity, depression, or HIV/AIDS. Many of these individuals rely on prescription medications every day, and supplement interactions could potentially affect their treatment.
The researchers strongly recommend talking with a doctor or pharmacist before taking cinnamon supplements together with prescription medicines.
Dr. Khan also reminded the public that dietary supplements are not designed to cure, prevent, or treat diseases. While supplements can sometimes support health, they may also cause unexpected problems if used improperly or mixed with medications.
Many people assume that natural products are always completely safe, but scientists say this is not always true. Natural substances can still affect the body in powerful ways.
For now, experts say there is no reason for most people to stop enjoying cinnamon in normal foods. Using small amounts in cooking and drinks remains safe for the general public.
However, before turning to high-dose cinnamon supplements for health benefits, it is important to seek professional medical advice first.
The research findings were published in Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences.
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