Study: Cinnamon supplements lower blood sugar response in healthy folks

Swedish researchers from the Department of Medicine at the University Hospital of Lund discovered that adding a cinnamon supplement to in a semisolid, carbohydrate-rich meal reduces after-meal blood sugar responses in healthy subjects. The cause of this reduction could at least partly be explained by delayed gastric emptying rate (GER). According to the scientists ?However, the reduction in the blood glucose concentrations, unexpectedly, was much more noticeable and pronounced in the present study than was the lowering of the GER. Therefore, it should be assumed that the change in GER itself could not be the only reason for the lower blood glucose response after the addition of cinnamon to the meal.?; they added that ?further investigation of the effect of cinnamon on the insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is needed.?


This new study published in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition adds to the growing body of research evidence that water-extracted cinnamon supplements positively effect blood sugar balance, which is especially important considering the growing epidemic of diabetes type 2 and metabolic syndrome.


In clinical studies, cinnamon has been shown to reduce fasting serum glucose, triglyceride (TG) and total as well as LDL-cholesterol concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes when it is added to the diet for 40d in doses of 1, 3, or 6g.

3 The same study found that, after the consumption of cinnamon for 40d, the serum blood sugar and TG levels remained lower, even after a 20-d washout period, which indicated that it is not necessary to consume cinnamon every day.3


This new study shows that the ingestion of 6g cinnamon reduces postprandial blood glucose concentrations and GER in healthy subjects. However, cinnamon?s effect on the past-meal glucose readings was much more pronounced than could be explained by delayed GER as the rate of gastric emptying acts as a major factor in blood glucose homeostasis in normal subjects by controlling the delivery of carbohydrate to the small intestine. Hence, the theory that cinnamon may act as an insulin-mimetic in the human body can not be discounted.


In fact, cinnamon has been shown to improve insulin receptor function by activating insulin receptor PI 3-kinase and inhibiting tyrosine phosphates.4 Cinnamon has also been shown to stimulate insulin receptor activity by increasing the concentrations of the phosphorylated intracellular protein IRS-1 and increasing the binding to PI 3-kinase, which leads to enhanced cellular glucose uptake.5 Additionally, in-vivo research found that cinnamon prevents the development of insulin resistance in rats fed a high-fructose diet by enhancing the insulin signaling, possibly via the nitric oxide pathway in skeletal muscle.6


In conclusion, current research suggests that cinnamon is able to reduce serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes and healthy folks as well. 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, while functioning as a potent antioxidant possibly preventing atherosclerosis, cancer and diabetes type 2.


Source: Joanna Hlebowicz, Gassan Darwiche, Ola Bj?rgell and Lars-Olof Alm?r. Effect of cinnamon on postprandial blood glucose, gastric emptying, and satiety in healthy subjects. Am J Clin Nutr (June) 2007; Vol. 85, No. 6: p. 1552-1556,


Abstract:

Background: Previous studies of patients with type 2 diabetes showed that cinnamon lowers fasting serum glucose, triacylglycerol, and LDL- and total cholesterol concentrations. Objective: We aimed to study the effect of cinnamon on the rate of gastric emptying, the postprandial blood glucose response, and satiety in healthy subjects.


Design:

The gastric emptying rate (GER) was measured by using standardized real-time ultrasonography. Fourteen healthy subjects were assessed by using a crossover trial. The subjects were examined after an 8-h fast if they had normal fasting blood glucose concentrations. GER was calculated as the percentage change in the antral cross-sectional area 15?90 min after ingestion of 300 g rice pudding (GER1) or 300 g rice pudding and 6 g cinnamon (GER2).


Results: The median value of GER1 was 37%, and that of GER2 was 34.5%. The addition of cinnamon to the rice pudding significantly delayed gastric emptying and lowered the postprandial glucose response (P < 0.05 for both). The reduction in the postprandial blood glucose concentration was much more noticeable and pronounced than was the lowering of the GER. The effect of cinnamon on satiety was not significant. Conclusions: The intake of 6 g cinnamon with rice pudding reduces postprandial blood glucose and delays gastric emptying without affecting satiety. Inclusion of cinnamon in the diet lowers the postprandial glucose response, a change that is at least partially explained by a delayed GER.


1
Broadhurst CL, Polansky MM, Anderson RA. Insulin-like biological activity of culinary and medical plant aqueous extracts in vitro.
J Agric Food Chem 2000; 48: 849?52

2
Anderson RA, Broadhurst CL, Polansky MM, et al. Isolation and characterization of polyphenol type-A polymers from cinnamon
with insulin-like biological activity. J Agric Food Chem 2004; 52: 65?70

3
Khan A, Safdar M, Khan MMA, Khattak KN, Anderson RA. Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes.Diabetes Care 2003; 26: 3215?8

4
Imparl-Radosevich J, Deas S, Polansky MM, et al. Regulation of PTP-1 and insulin receptor kinase by fractions from cinnamon: implications for cinnamon regulation of insulin signalling. Horm Res 1998; 50: 177?82

5
Qin B, Nagasaki M, Ren M, Bajotto G, Oshida Y, Sato S. Cinnamon extract (traditional herb) potentiates in vivo insulin-regulated glucose utilazation via insulin-regulated glucose utilazation via enhancing insulin signalin in rats. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2003; 62:3:139?48

6
Qin B, Nagasaki M, Ren M, Bajotto G, Oshida Y, Sato S. Cinnamon extract prevents the insulin resistance induced by a highfructose
diet. Horm Metab Res 2004; 36: 119?25

Good post.

There are newer studies/data to support this as well as new digestion data also.

I am a Cinnamon junkie, I use it a lot.

My new PWO drink incorporates ACV, honey and cinnamon. :)

I need to look into the cinnulin extract though. Wonder how much credence there is to the toxic byproducts of ingesting too much straight cinnamon.

I think the insulin receptor activity may hold greater benefit to non-diabetic athletes. Lately I've been interested in supps to decrease insulin resistance especially in muscle tissue.

excellent post by ness, as usual!

just one thing: it makes a difference which cinammon extract is used. there are cheaper ones that have a lot of coumarins, which is not very healthy. the good ones do not have coumarins.
if someone wants to supplement with cinammon should be aware of this.

[QUOTE=Dr.P;67874623]excellent post by ness, as usual!

just one thing: it makes a difference which cinammon extract is used. there are cheaper ones that have a lot of coumarins, which is not very healthy. the good ones do not have coumarins.
if someone wants to supplement with cinammon should be aware of this.[/QUOTE]
Cinnulin PF would be the way to go since 500 mg of Cinnulin PF is equivalent to approximately 10 g of whole cinnamon powder (i.e., 20:1 extract) ...

Another one using Cinnulin PF ...
[url=http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:db5orS4OBaUJ:www.sportsnutritionsociety.org/site/pdf/JISSN-3-2-45-53-06.pdf+%22Cinnulin+PF%22+equivalent+%22cinnamon+powder%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us]Effects of a Water-Soluble Cinnamon Extract on Body Composition and Features of the Metabolic Syndrome in Pre-Diabetic Men and Women[/url]

good thing i load the cinnamon on my sweet potatos and oatmeal then

[Quote]
Anti-Clotting Actions

Cinnamaldehyde (also called cinnamic aldehyde) has been well-researched for its effects on blood platelets. Platelets are constituents of blood that are meant to clump together under emergency circumstances (like physical injury) as a way to stop bleeding, but under normal circumstances, they can make blood flow inadequate if they clump together too much. The cinnaldehyde in cinnamon helps prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets. [b](The way it accomplishes this health-protective act is by inhibiting the release of an inflammatory fatty acid called arachidonic acid from platelet membranes and reducing the formation of an inflammatory messaging molecule called thromboxane A2.) Cinnamon's ability to lower the release of arachidonic acid from cell membranes also puts it in the category of an "anti-inflammatory" food that can be helpful in lessening inflammation.[/b] [/Quote]

No more cinnamon in your oatmeal if you want to reap the benefits of daily AA (yolk / X-Factor) intake? Or not a big deal?

[QUOTE=Dr.P;67874623]excellent post by ness, as usual!

just one thing: it makes a difference which cinammon extract is used. there are cheaper ones that have a lot of coumarins, which is not very healthy. the good ones do not have coumarins.
if someone wants to supplement with cinammon should be aware of this.[/QUOTE]

Is this normally listed on the cinammon bottle? If not, what can I look for? I am interested in buying some to be able to add to my shakes.

[QUOTE=mcmajo;67904963]Is this normally listed on the cinammon bottle? If not, what can I look for? I am interested in buying some to be able to add to my shakes.[/QUOTE]

Ground cinnamon has GRAS status as a seasoning I believe but in those dosages its ingestion is minute. Since coumarin is fat-soluble it can build up I suppose. Need to look into this more.

This means that people who take full dose of CELL-TECH (lots of sugar) should also take cinnamon?? serious answers please :)

[QUOTE=J DIP;67898013]No more cinnamon in your oatmeal if you want to reap the benefits of daily AA (yolk / X-Factor) intake? Or not a big deal?[/QUOTE]


Unless you're using a half a bottle of cinnamon on your oatmeal:D.... I doubt you'll have ANYTHING to be concerned with.

great post

[QUOTE=J DIP;67898013]No more cinnamon in your oatmeal if you want to reap the benefits of daily AA (yolk / X-Factor) intake? Or not a big deal?[/QUOTE]

I think you'll be fine even with a high cinnamon intake while taking arachidonic acid supplements. The abstract you have quoted really does not elucidate as to the degree of AA not released from platelets under normal conditions which is minimal, unless they are under distress. If there is any significant platelet secretion of AA without the need of platelet aggregation to stop hemorrhage (bleeding) you'd develop clots within your circulating blood. The second part of the abstract tells of decreased sensitivity in the thromboxane A2 pathway. This pathway is used as a positive feedback mechanism for activated platelets to activate more platelets to be used in the clotting cascade. Seeing as that the idea behind AA supplementation to increase muscle repair/building is dependant upon the PDE and PDG synthase pathways (not the thromboxane A2 pathway) the effects of cinnamon would not show any negative effects in that respect. AA supplementation has been shown to regulate hormones at the cellular level, control cellular growth, and regulate calcium movement through the unaffected PDE and PDG pathways. From the abstract I think it is safe to conclude that consuming cinnamon while supplementing with AA is safe however I'll do a more thorough literature search and report my findings.

[QUOTE=Supa Freek 420;67906673]Ground cinnamon has GRAS status as a seasoning I believe but in those dosages its ingestion is minute. Since coumarin is fat-soluble it can build up I suppose. Need to look into this more.[/QUOTE]

From the little I have read on coumarin (research on a Pechmann condensation presentation) it tends to be present in much higher concentrations in tobacco, bison grass, and tonka beans than it does in cinnamon. If it tends to be higher in concentration in tobacco and there are people smoking Lord knows how many packs a day I think we are safe from any toxic build up of coumarin. Toxicity lies at 275mg/kg of body weight although I could not find levels at which complications can become present. Let me know your findings though, it is an interesting thought.

[QUOTE=J DIP;67898013]No more cinnamon in your oatmeal if you want to reap the benefits of daily AA (yolk / X-Factor) intake? Or not a big deal?[/QUOTE]

Great question. I'll have to look into this a bit. I'm guessing the amount used in food prep would pale in comparison to the potency of a high quality extract.

In terms of cinnamaldehyde oral administration, based on the in vivo study below, dosages of 250-500 mg/kg orally, were well accepted by mice/rats. For a 170 lb adult, this would be the equivalent of a dosage of 19-38 grams.

[color=blue][B]Cinnamaldehyde reduction of platelet aggregation and thrombosis in rodents[/B][/color]

Results
CA inhibited collagen- and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. In mice, CA administration (250, 500 mg/kg orally and 50, 100 mg/kg i.p.) markedly prolonged hemorrhage and coagulation times and effectively reduced the mortality rate of collagen-epinephrine-induced acute pulmonary thromboembolism. In an arteriovenous shunt thrombosis rat model, the CA administration (250, 500 mg/kg orally and 50, 100 mg/kg i.p.) for 10 days dose-dependently decreased thrombus weight. Administration of CA also significantly inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation in the rat platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Conclusions
The results demonstrate that CA may be a promising antithrombotic agent, and its antithrombotic activity may be due to anti-platelet aggregation activity in vitro and in vivo. [url]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez[/url]

[QUOTE=mcmajo;67904963]Is this normally listed on the cinammon bottle? If not, what can I look for? I am interested in buying some to be able to add to my shakes.[/QUOTE]


It depends on the cinammon source. So called "Ceylon-cinammon" has only very small amounts of coumarin, while "Cassia-Cinammon" has pretty high concentrations of them.

In some European countries, the maximally allowed concentrations of coumarin in foods is 2 mg/kg. It has been found out that some foods (e.g. certain cookies) have had several times higher coumarin levels (due to the added cinammon).

coumarin can have hepatotoxic effects.

Personally, when I don't exactely know the source of the cinammon, I would defintiively avoid to megadose it. Same applies to cinammon extracts that do not list the source of the cinammon and that do not list how much coumarines have been left in the extract.

Duchaine kind of talked about this as early as 1996, in his book BodyOpus

[QUOTE=deserusan;68042603]Great question. I'll have to look into this a bit. I'm guessing the amount used in food prep would pale in comparison to the potency of a high quality extract.[/QUOTE]

I can see supplementing with AA not being much of a problem because of the strong dose, but what about relying on the small amount of AA through the diet?

i.e. eating 3 whole eggs and a 8oz Steak per day, while supplementing with cinnamon..

[QUOTE=J DIP;68141953]I can see supplementing with AA not being much of a problem because of the strong dose, but what about relying on the small amount of AA through the diet?

i.e. eating 3 whole eggs and a 8oz Steak per day, while supplementing with cinnamon..[/QUOTE]

It's possible. How is your progress since starting cinnamon?

[QUOTE=deserusan;68142553]It's possible. How is your progress since starting cinnamon?[/QUOTE]

Well this is why I haven't implemented cinnamon into my diet yet, at least not consistently, and less than a half of tsp when used. Pretty much the same reason I look out for soy now...paranoia lol

[QUOTE=MAS2208;67927333] Seeing as that the idea behind AA supplementation to increase muscle repair/building is dependant upon the PDE and PDG synthase pathways (not the thromboxane A2 pathway) the effects of cinnamon would not show any negative effects in that respect. AA supplementation has been shown to regulate hormones at the cellular level, control cellular growth, and regulate calcium movement through the unaffected PDE and PDG pathways. From the abstract I think it is safe to conclude that consuming cinnamon while supplementing with AA is safe however I'll do a more thorough literature search and report my findings.[/QUOTE]

This brings me to another question. Supplementing with cinnamon won't affect the pathways that AA supplement users are concerned with (i.e. cell growth), but will it HELP reduce the potential sides that may come with AA supplementation all while reaping the benefits of hypertrophy?

[QUOTE=J DIP;68144053]Well this is why I haven't implemented cinnamon into my diet yet, at least not consistently, and less than a half of tsp when used. Pretty much the same reason I look out for soy now...paranoia lol[/QUOTE]

As long as you aren't taking any concentrated extract I don't see any issue. Also, those extremely concerned with limiting inflammation typically aren't the bodybuilding type.

[QUOTE=J DIP;68144353]This brings me to another question. Supplementing with cinnamon won't affect the pathways that AA supplement users are concerned with (i.e. cell growth), but will it HELP reduce the potential sides that may come with AA supplementation all while reaping the benefits of hypertrophy?[/QUOTE]

Again, it's possible but conjecture is hard without any research in that direction.

[QUOTE=j_neatherlin;68141913]Duchaine kind of talked about this as early as 1996, in his book BodyOpus[/QUOTE]

Can't say I'm surprised... he was way, way ahead of his time. UD2 is one of the best integrated diet/training programs of all time, and figures, it's based off of Duchaine's BodyOpus. As for cinnamon, it's definitely good stuff, and here's some lit. I had bookmarked on it. Something like Cinnulin-PF would also be quite desirable to someone actually wanting to be able to "feel" the benefits described.

***
Arch Biochem Biophys. 2007 Mar 15;459(2):214-22. Epub 2007 Jan 25.

Cinnamon extract and polyphenols affect the expression of tristetraprolin, insulin receptor, and glucose transporter 4 in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
Cao H, Polansky MM, Anderson RA.

Nutrient Requirements and Functions Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA. [email]heping.cao@ars.usda.gov[/email]

Cinnamon improves glucose and lipid profiles of people with type 2 diabetes. Water-soluble cinnamon extract (CE) and HPLC-purified cinnamon polyphenols (CP) with doubly linked procyanidin type-A polymers display insulin-like activity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of cinnamon on the protein and mRNA levels of insulin receptor (IR), glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), and tristetraprolin (TTP/ZFP36) in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Immunoblotting showed that CP increased IRbeta levels and that both CE and CP increased GLUT4 and TTP levels in the adipocytes. Quantitative real-time PCR indicated that CE (100mug/ml) rapidly increased TTP mRNA levels by approximately 6-fold in the adipocytes. CE at higher concentrations decreased IRbeta protein and IR mRNA levels, and its effect on GLUT4 mRNA levels exhibited a biphasic pattern in the adipocytes. These results suggest that cinnamon exhibits the potential to increase the amount of proteins involved in insulin signaling, glucose transport, and anti-inflammatory/anti-angiogenesis response.

PMID: 17316549 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2003 Dec;62(3):139-48.

Cinnamon extract (traditional herb) potentiates in vivo insulin-regulated glucose utilization via enhancing insulin signaling in rats.
Qin B, Nagasaki M, Ren M, Bajotto G, Oshida Y, Sato Y.

Department of Sports Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.

Cinnamon has been shown to potentiate the insulin effect through upregulation of the glucose uptake in cultured adipocytes. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of the cinnamon extract on the insulin action in awaked rats by the euglycemic clamp and further analyzed possible changes in insulin signaling occurred in skeletal muscle. The rats were divided into saline and cinnamon extract (30 and 300 mg/kg BW-doses: C30 and C300) oral administration groups. After 3-weeks, cinnamon extract treated rats showed a significantly higher glucose infusion rate (GIR) at 3 mU/kg per min insulin infusions compared with controls (118 and 146% of controls for C30 and C300, respectively). At 30 mU/kg per min insulin infusions, the GIR in C300 rats was increased 17% over controls. There were no significant differences in insulin receptor (IR)-beta, IR substrate (IRS)-1, and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase protein content between C300 rats and controls. However, the skeletal muscle insulin-stimulated IR-beta and the IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation levels in C300 rats were 18 and 33% higher, respectively, added to 41% higher IRS-1/PI 3-kinase association. These results suggest that the cinnamon extract would improve insulin action via increasing glucose uptake in vivo, at least in part through enhancing the insulin-signaling pathway in skeletal muscle.

PMID: 14625128 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2003 Dec;62(3):139-48.

Cinnamon extract (traditional herb) potentiates in vivo insulin-regulated glucose utilization via enhancing insulin signaling in rats.
Qin B, Nagasaki M, Ren M, Bajotto G, Oshida Y, Sato Y.

Department of Sports Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.

Cinnamon has been shown to potentiate the insulin effect through upregulation of the glucose uptake in cultured adipocytes. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of the cinnamon extract on the insulin action in awaked rats by the euglycemic clamp and further analyzed possible changes in insulin signaling occurred in skeletal muscle. The rats were divided into saline and cinnamon extract (30 and 300 mg/kg BW-doses: C30 and C300) oral administration groups. After 3-weeks, cinnamon extract treated rats showed a significantly higher glucose infusion rate (GIR) at 3 mU/kg per min insulin infusions compared with controls (118 and 146% of controls for C30 and C300, respectively). At 30 mU/kg per min insulin infusions, the GIR in C300 rats was increased 17% over controls. There were no significant differences in insulin receptor (IR)-beta, IR substrate (IRS)-1, and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase protein content between C300 rats and controls. However, the skeletal muscle insulin-stimulated IR-beta and the IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation levels in C300 rats were 18 and 33% higher, respectively, added to 41% higher IRS-1/PI 3-kinase association. These results suggest that the cinnamon extract would improve insulin action via increasing glucose uptake in vivo, at least in part through enhancing the insulin-signaling pathway in skeletal muscle.

PMID: 14625128 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Looks like this one just came out: [url]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17563345&ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum[/url].

would be interesting to know if there is any regulation of coumarin amounts in commercially available cinnamon in the United states...i do not believe there is and it is not believed to be an issue unless you are taking multigram doses...of course, those doses are needed in this case.

IMO, water soluble extracts would be the best choice (as we know they will be coumarin free). If there are any that are standardized for procyanidins, that would be all the better....procyanidins are the compounds responsible for the blood sugar lowering in cinnamon (acting as insulin mimetics)...

[QUOTE=J DIP;68144353]This brings me to another question. Supplementing with cinnamon won't affect the pathways that AA supplement users are concerned with (i.e. cell growth), but will it HELP reduce the potential sides that may come with AA supplementation all while reaping the benefits of hypertrophy?[/QUOTE]

I am going to assume you are talking about the side effects like sore joints and DOMS that accompany many users of AA supplements. I really could not find much info on any pathways between increased AA levels and joint problems except for a few "abstract only" hits that were useless. I really am having a hard time explaining the phenomenon to myself looking at all of the pathways involved. There is most likely some connection with the production leukotrienes from AA dependant upon the hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid pathway that causes alterations in the normal inflammatory response. Most joint problems are caused by inflammatory or noninflammatory response deviating the volume of synovial fluid from the norm and causing either pressure on the joints or a drying of the joints. From what I recall DOMS is probably attributed to a similar mechanism through the HPETE pathway as many leukotrienes can act upon GPRs causing vasoconstriction and other activation/deactivation of normal function in the CNS.

I would undoubtedly agree with Des in saying that normal consumption of cinnamon would probably not have any effect on normal AA metabolism unless one in consuming large amounts of purified concentrated extract. Even the studies I have recently read on cinnamon and its effect on metabolism are administered in ridiculous large amounts, to the effect of 6-30g daily. I really doubt there would be any negative interactions between cinnamon and AA supplements or their side effects.

I'll look into this a bit more and see if I can find anything more definitive.

interesting read

[url]http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/245/consumers_who_eat_a_lot_of_cinnamon_currently_have_an_overly_high_exposure_to_coumarin.pdf[/url]