Cinnamon Improves Metabolic Action of Insulin

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.