Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People With Type 2 Diabetes. Abstract. OBJECTIVE—The objective of this study was to determine whether cinnamon improves blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Fats, oils, and waxes belong to the group of naturally occuring organic materials called lipids. Lipids are those constituents of plants or animals which are.
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- The addition of 1, 3, or 6 g of cinnamon to the diet led to significant decreases in serum glucose levels after 40 days. Values after 20 days were.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A total of 6. Groups 1, 2, and 3 consumed 1, 3, or 6 g of cinnamon daily, respectively, and groups 4, 5, and 6 were given placebo capsules corresponding to the number of capsules consumed for the three levels of cinnamon. The cinnamon was consumed for 4. RESULTS—After 4. 0 days, all three levels of cinnamon reduced the mean fasting serum glucose (1. LDL cholesterol (7–2.
Changes in HDL cholesterol were not significant. CONCLUSIONS—The results of this study demonstrate that intake of 1, 3, or 6 g of cinnamon per day reduces serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes and suggest that the inclusion of cinnamon in the diet of people with type 2 diabetes will reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The incidence of cardiovascular diseases is increased two- to fourfold in people with type 2 diabetes (1). Although the causes of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are multifactorial, diet definitely plays a role in the incidence and severity of these diseases. The dietary components beneficial in the prevention and treatment of these diseases have not been clearly defined, but it is postulated that spices may play a role. Spices such as cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, and turmeric display insulin- enhancing activity in vitro (2,3). Botanical products can improve glucose metabolism and the overall condition of individuals with diabetes not only by hypoglycemic effects but also by improving lipid metabolism, antioxidant status, and capillary function (4).
A number of medicinal/culinary herbs have been reported to yield hypoglycemic effects in patients with diabetes. Examples of these include bitter melon, Gymnema, Korean ginseng, onions, garlic, flaxseed meal, and specific nutrients including . In rats, curry leaf and mustard seeds decreased total serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and VLDL cholesterol and increased HDL cholesterol levels (7) and reduced cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids in aorta, liver, and heart (8). The LDL and VLDL fractions were also decreased and the HDL fraction was increased. Coriander seeds fed to rats consuming a high- fat diet led to decreased LDL, VLDL, and total cholesterol and increased HDL cholesterol (9).
Lipid, any of a diverse group of organic compounds including fats, oils, hormones, and certain components of membranes that are grouped together because they do not. Lipids are one of the four major groups of organic molecules; the other three being proteins, nucleic acids (DNA), and carbohydrates (sugars).
Because insulin also plays a key role in lipid metabolism, we postulated that consumption of cinnamon would lead to improved glucose and blood lipids in vivo. Therefore, this study was designed to determine whether there is a dose response of cinnamon on clinical variables associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in people with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThis study was conducted in the Department of Human Nutrition, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan and was approved by the Ethics Committee and Human Studies Review Board of the University of Peshawar.
Selection criteria for the study included the following for people with type 2 diabetes: age > 4. A total of 6. 0 individuals with type 2 diabetes, 3. The mean age of the subjects was 5. The duration of diabetes was also similar: 6. There was also an equal number of men and women in the placebo and cinnamon groups.
All subjects were taking sulfonylurea drugs, i. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) certified by the Office of the Director, Research and Development/Non- Timber Forest Products, NWFP Forest Department, Peshawar, Pakistan, was used in this study. Cinnamon and wheat flour were ground finely and put into capsules (Mehran Traders Pharmaceutical Suppliers, Peshawar, Pakistan). Each capsule contained either 5. Both the cinnamon and placebo capsules were packaged in plastic bags containing 4.
When subjects finished testing after the first 2. Compliance was monitored by capsule count and contact with the subjects. Compliance was considered excellent and all capsules were consumed. The study was conducted for 6. Group 1 consumed two 5.
Lipids are absolutely crucial for the human body to work as it does, particularly during times of adversity. The functions of lipids are simply astonishing in terms.
Groups 4, 5, and 6 were assigned to respective placebo groups, which consumed a corresponding number of capsules containing wheat flour. Subjects consumed their normal diets and continued their medications throughout the study. From days 4. 1 to 6. The 1- g dose of cinnamon and placebo was spread over the day as 0. The 3- g and 6- g doses of cinnamon and placebo were spread over the day as 1 g (two capsules) and 2 g (four capsules) after breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively. The subjects were instructed to take the capsules immediately after meals.
On days 0, 2. 0, 4. Blood samples were transferred to sterilized centrifuge tubes and allowed to clot at room temperature.
The blood samples were centrifuged for 1. Serum samples were stored in a freezer at 0. Triglyceride levels were determined by the enzymatic colorimetric method of Werner et al. Cholesterol levels were determined by enzymatic colorimetric method of Allain et al. Chylomicrons, VLDL, and LDL were precipitated by adding phosphotungstic acid and magnesium ions to the sample.
Centrifugation left only the HDL in the supernatant (1. LDL cholesterol was calculated by dividing the triglycerides by 5 and subtracting the HDL cholesterol (1. Two- way ANOVA and randomized complete block design were used for statistical analysis (1. Values after 2. 0 days were significantly lower only in the group receiving 6 g of cinnamon (Table 1). At the levels tested, there was no evidence of a dose response because the response to all three levels of cinnamon was similar. Decreases ranged from 1. After the subjects no longer consumed the cinnamon for 2.
Glucose values in the three placebo groups were not significantly different at any of the time points. The consumption of cinnamon also led to a time- dependent decrease in serum triglyceride levels at all amounts of cinnamon tested after 4. Table 2). Values after 2. Decreases after 4. These data indicate that consumption of cinnamon for > 2.
The mean fasting serum triglyceride levels of the subjects who consumed 1 g or 3 g of cinnamon per day for 4. Decreases in the 6- g group were no longer significant.
There were no changes in triglyceride levels in any of the three placebo groups (Table 2). There were also significant decreases in serum cholesterol levels in all three groups consuming cinnamon, and no changes were noted in the respective placebo groups (Table 3). Decreases were significant after 2. These decreases in serum cholesterol level ranging from 1.
Table 3, last column). Decreases in LDL were significant in the 3- and 6- g groups after 4. Table 4). Decreases in the 1- g group were not significant after 4. Table 4, last column). There were nonsignificant changes in HDL in the subjects consuming 1 or 6 g of cinnamon for 4. Decreases in the 3- g group were significant after 2. These values remained relatively unchanged after the 2.
CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrates effects of low levels (1–6 g per day) of cinnamon on the reduction of glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels in subjects with type 2 diabetes. The study design serves to replicate the results because there were similar effects at the three doses tested. It is not clear whether even less than 1 g of cinnamon per day would also be beneficial. The data are also reinforced by the observation that there were no significant changes in any of the placebo groups. There were also no problems with compliance or problems associated with the consumption of .
Symptoms of insulin resistance include decreased stimulation of muscle glycogen synthesis as well as defects in glycogen synthase activity and glucose uptake (1. In addition, altered enzymatic activities, such as an increased phosphatase activity and/or seryl phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate by glycogen synthase kinase- 3 (GSK- 3), have also been shown to be involved in some cases of type 2 diabetes (1. Dephosphorylation of the receptor . Maximal phosphorylation of the insulin receptor is associated with increased insulin sensitivity, which is associated with improved glucose and lipid levels. Extracts of cinnamon activated glycogen synthase, increased glucose uptake, and inhibited glycogen synthase kinase- 3.
Extracts of cinnamon also activated insulin receptor kinase and inhibited dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor, leading to maximal phosphorylation of the insulin receptor (1. All of these effects would lead to increased insulin sensitivity. We have shown that extracts of cinnamon also function as potent antioxidants, which would lead to additional health benefits of this substance (unpublished data). Dhuley (2. 2) showed that cinnamon displays antioxidant activity in rats fed a high- fat diet. The maintenance of lower serum glucose and lipid levels, even when the individuals were not consuming cinnamon for 2.
The levels of cinnamon tested in this study, 1–6 g per day, suggest that there is a wide range of cinnamon intake that may be beneficial and that intake of < 1 g daily is likely to be beneficial in controlling blood glucose and lipid levels. In conclusion, cinnamon reduced serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Because cinnamon would not contribute to caloric intake, those who have type 2 diabetes or those who have elevated glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, or total cholesterol levels may benefit from the regular inclusion of cinnamon in their daily diet. In addition, cinnamon may be beneficial for the remainder of the population to prevent and control elevated glucose and blood lipid levels. Table 1—Effects of cinnamon on glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Table 2—Effects of cinnamon on triglyceride levels in people with type 2 diabetes.