New research on cinnamon and cinnamon extracts has demonstrated their positive effects on controlling blood sugar and lipid metabolism for people with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. As a rich source of chromium, which is needed for carbohydrate metabolism, cinnamon also has properties that increase insulin-dependent glucose metabolism in laboratory experiments. A study of 60 men and women with type 2 diabetes showed that those treated with 1, 3, or 6 g/day of cinnamon for 40 days had decreases in fasting glucose levels of 18% to 29% and significant decreases in triglycerides, cholesterol, and low-density lipoproteins. Another placebo-controlled, double-blind trial included 22 prediabetic adults who were given 500 mg/day of water-soluble cinnamon extract or placebo for 12 weeks. Results showed that 83% of participants who were given the extract had a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose (8%), compared with 33% of those in the placebo group.