The Cinnamon Myth

Julie Bradshaw is a registered dietician and clinical nutrition manager at Banner Estrella Medical Center.

Question: I’ve heard there are health benefits from eating cinnamon, such as treating my diabetes or helping to lower my cholesterol. Is this true?

Answer: The answer to this question is somewhat tricky because there is not yet enough research to truly determine whether cinnamon offers any real type of health benefit. Most studies showing a link between cinnamon and improved glucose and lipid levels were done on animals “in vitro” (outside the living body in an artificial environment) or “in vivo” (in the living body). These studies did indicate a positive effect from cinnamon on insulin sensitivity. Insulin is needed to convert carbohydrate and sugar in foods into energy.

Some people have a condition where the body makes insulin, but the fat cells won't let the insulin in. This causes excess sugar to stay in the blood and often leads to diabetes. The studies showed that cinnamon makes the cells more likely to let insulin in.

There were also three studies completed on humans this past year with the results of the studies differing from one another. One study performed on post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus showed no improvement on glucose levels as well as no change in blood lipid levels.

On the other hand, the other two studies conducted on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus showed a moderate effect in reducing fasting plasma glucose levels. One study showed an improvement in triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol while there were no changes in lipid profiles after the supplementation in the other study.

Is the benefit of cinnamon myth or fact? More studies need to be done to conclusively determine the benefits of cinnamon affecting glucose levels and lipid levels. It is important to ask your doctor before starting any supplement to make sure there are no side effects with your current treatments or medications.