By Marjet Heitzer, Ph.D.

The Plateau-proof Diet Foundation

Http://www.plateauproofdiet.com



The incidence of Type II diabetes is on the rise in the United States, and it is directly related to the obesity epidemic currently occurring in the U.S. This article will discuss the benefits of dietary consumption of cinnamon on stabilizing blood glucose levels in persons with Type II diabetes. However, replacing any current medication with cinnamon or suspending the use of any medication is not recommended. Individuals with Type II diabetes should consult their physician before making any dietary changes.

Given the side effects from drugs commonly used to combat Type II diabetes, the search for dietary means to stabilize blood glucose levels in Type II diabetes is a constant quest (1). For example, some of the potential side effects include: weight gain, upset stomach, rash, nausea, weakness, dizziness, anemia, and liver diseases. One class of drugs used for Type II diabetes, sulfonylureas, induce increased insulin by the pancreas as well as aid in glucose clearing from the blood. However, because of the numerous side effects such as low blood sugar, blurred vision, cold sweats, headache, nausea, and weakness as well as others, associated with sulfonylureas, alternative food-based, dietary means of stabilizing blood glucose in individuals with Type II diabetes would be highly beneficial.

Cinnamon, derived from the inner bark of Cinnamonum cassia, Cinnamonum saigonicum, or Cinnamonum zeylanicum as well as leaves in the form of oil, has long been used by people in Korea, China, and Russia suffering from Type II diabetes. There are a number of ways in which cinnamon consumption is thought to affect Type II diabetes, including increasing insulin sensitivity by increasing plasma insulin levels and possibly by mimicking insulin itself (2, 3).

A key study performed by Khan et al. addressed the potential use of cinnamon as a treatment for Type II diabetes (4). The individuals recruited for this test were diagnosed with Type II diabetes, over the age of 40, and currently not taking insulin. Furthermore, their fasting blood glucose was between 140-400 mg/dl. At the beginning of the study, blood glucose, triglyceride, and serum cholesterol levels were measured for each participant. Then, study participants received capsules containing either cinnamon derived from Cinnamonum cassia or wheat flour (placebo controls) and were instructed to take 1, 3, or 6 grams each day for 40 days. Again blood glucose, triglyceride, and serum cholesterol levels were measured after 20 days and 40 days in addition to 20 days after the participants ceased taking the capsules. This study showed that cinnamon consumption in any amount for 20 or 40 days decreased blood glucose levels 18-30% as well as triglycerides and serum cholesterol (13-26%). Importantly, LDL (bad cholesterol) was reduced by 10-24% in participants consuming cinnamon while HDL (good cholesterol) was unaffected.

In order to determine the long term effects of cinnamon intake on stabilizing blood glucose and serum cholesterol levels, final measurements were taken 20 days after finishing the cinnamon capsules. Interestingly, blood glucose levels remained lowered 20 days after the cinnamon treatment. Furthermore, lowered serum triglycerides, cholesterol, and LDL were observed in participants that consumed the cinnamon 20 days later. Because the beneficial effects of cinnamon were sustained long after its consumption, it may not be necessary to consume cinnamon daily to receive its benefits. Importantly, subjects that took the wheat flour capsules did not have any change in blood glucose or lipid profiles, indicating that the beneficial effects obtained from the cinnamon capsules is specific. The one drawback from this study is that there were relatively few participants involved (60 people) and the study time was relatively short.

A follow up study indicated that not all cinnamon extracts are created equal in stabilizing blood glucose levels in Type II diabetes. Specifically, Cinnamonum cassia was more effective than Cinnamonum zeylanicum at increasing insulin levels in the blood and thereby decreasing blood glucose levels (3). Furthermore, Cinnamonum cassia was almost as effective at decreasing blood glucose as glibenclamide, a commonly prescribed sulfonylurea used in the treatment for Type II diabetes.

Along with improving blood glucose and lipid profiles, cinnamon intake may also have additional benefits. Because cinnamon is high in flavinoids, it may also function as an antioxidant (5). Antioxidants possess anti-carcinogenic characteristics as well as decrease a person's risk for developing heart disease. Furthermore, there is some evidence that cinnamon may have some antibacterial, antidermatophyte, vasodilative, as well as anti-thrombotic activities, indicating that cinnamon may also be useful in wound healing and cardioprotective (6, 7).

Because cinnamon is a seasoning and does not contribute to caloric intake, consumption of cinnamon is feasible within The Plateau-Proof Diet. Relatively small amounts of cinnamon (approximately ½ tsp) were sufficient to reduce both blood glucose as well as lipid levels. So, it is not necessary to purchase and consume cinnamon pills which are commercially available. Furthermore, because there is no regulation on dietary supplements, purity is always questionable. Regular seasoning of meals is sufficient to receive the hypoglycemic effects of cinnamon.

1. Chitturi S, George J 2002 Hepatotoxicity of commonly used drugs: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antihypertensives, antidiabetic agents, anticonvulsants, lipid-lowering agents, psychotropic drugs. Semin Liver Dis 22:169-83

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

3. Verspohl EJ, Bauer K, Neddermann E 2005 Antidiabetic effect of Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum zeylanicum in vivo and in vitro. Phytother Res 19:203-6

4. Khan A, Safdar M, Ali Khan MM, Khattak KN, Anderson RA 2003 Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 26:3215-8

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

6. Kamath JV, Rana AC, Chowdhury AR 2003 Pro-healing effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark. Phytother Res 17:970-2

7. Qin B, Nagasaki M, Ren M, Bajotto G, Oshida Y, Sato Y 2003 Cinnamon extract (traditional herb) potentiates in vivo insulin-regulated glucose utilization via enhancing insulin signaling in rats. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 62:139-48



About the author:

Dr. Marjet Heitzer is a biomedical scientist specialized in cancer and endocrine research. She is the founding editor of 'Trimming America', the free journal of 'The Plateau-proof Diet Foundation'. She is a strong proponent of reversing obesity and some of its comorbidities, including type II diabetes and hypertension, with a lifestyle change that has healthy dieting at its core.

Http://www.plateauproofdiet.com