" Data suggests that taking cinnamon may have a slightly useful effect in treating type 2 diabetes."
A recent meta-analysis was performed on randomized controlled trials that provided data on the effect of cinnamon on type-2 diabetes. In the experiment, the randomized trials included a total of 543 patients with type-2 diabetes, 254 of who received cinnamon in their respective trial.
There was considerable variability in the amount of cinnamon used and the duration of the trials included in the meta-analysis. Cinnamon doses ranged from a low of 120 mg per day up to 6 g per day. Study lengths were as short as 4 weeks and as long as 18 weeks.
In this analysis, taking cinnamon was associated with significant decreases in fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. HDL cholesterol increased significantly. The data suggests that taking cinnamon may have a slightly useful effect in treating type 2 diabetes.
Still to be answered is how cinnamon might act in combination with other botanical extracts, vitamins, and minerals that could treat diabetes. Cinnamon might synergistically enhance a typical naturopathic protocol that includes a lower carbohydrate diet and encouragement and counseling for patients to exercise, sleep well, and reduce stress. Used in combination with cinnamon, other substances that independently have hypoglycemic action may have additive or possibly synergistic effects with cinnamon.
