Typically, cinnamon bark is made from the bark of the Cinnamomum zeylanicum cinnamon tree. While cassia, often known as Chinese cinnamon, is the most widely available species, there are also kinds found in Indonesia (Padang cassia or Korintje), Vietnam (Vietnamese cassia), and Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
The most prevalent variety of cinnamon, at least in North America, is cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia), which is frequently a blend of several varieties. In the US, the amount of cassia cinnamon that is frequently found in food and drink is regarded as safe and is designated as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS).
Cinnamaldehyde makes up the majority of the volatile oils in cinnamon, which are responsible for the spice’s unique smell. Additional components discovered in cinnamon comprise coumarin and polyphenols like hydroxychalcone.
In addition to its anticancer and antimicrobial qualities, cinnamonaldehyde also affects the immunological system. The stated antidiabetic benefits of cassia cinnamon and, to a lesser extent, other types of cinnamon seem to be attributed to the polyphenol hydroxychalcone.
Cinnamon’s Potential Benefits Against Diabetes
Cassia cinnamon has been shown to enhance insulin secretion in several animal models of diabetes; nevertheless, its effects on blood sugar levels do not appear to be very substantial. There has been conflicting evidence in clinical trials about the effectiveness of cassia cinnamon in lowering blood sugar levels and the A1c percentage.
When compared to a placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes, some clinical trials have shown that cassia cinnamon can lower blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, HbA1C percentages, and fasting blood sugar. However, other studies have shown no discernible effect.
These investigations employed daily dosages ranging from 120 mg to 6000 mg. In other research, ingesting 1-3 grams of cassia cinnamon per day did not result in a decrease in blood sugar, A1c, or any other lab parameter related to T2D or T1D.
Science frequently performs a meta-analysis—a statistical reexamination of a full set of studies—to resolve inconsistent findings. According to the two most recent meta-analyses, people with type 2 diabetes can dramatically reduce their blood sugar, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides by ingesting 120–6000 mg of cassia cinnamon per day. There is still a lack of data and analysis in the T1D studies, which are still tiny.
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Synopsis
Right now, there isn’t a lot of data to support the use of cinnamon to help increase insulin sensitivity, lower blood sugar, or affect other critical lab numbers like triglycerides, cholesterol, or A1c. However, there don’t seem to be many safety concerns associated with taking cassia cinnamon. Although the evidence isn’t very strong and side effects like skin rashes are infrequent, anyone with diabetes should give it some thought, especially if they enjoy the flavor of cinnamon.
Despite the lack of strong evidence, you should be aware that if you DO include cassia cinnamon in your diet or take it as a supplement, it may interact with any medications you are currently taking, including insulin, metformin (Glucophage), glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), pioglitazone (Actos), and rosiglitazone (Avandia).
Before using cassia cinnamon in your diet, consult your doctor and pharmacist if you have a history of liver illness or if you are taking any cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins, fenofibrate (Tricor), gemfibrozil (Lopid), and many others.
As previously mentioned, up to 6 grams per day appear to be safe, yet there is currently no recommended dosage. Six grams, or one and a half teaspoons, of cinnamon is a very large amount. Again, it might work for you if you enjoy the flavor of cinnamon, but in the majority of trials, far less was used—typically between one and three grams, or less than a teaspoon.
Regarding cassia cinnamon dosage, abide by the manufacturer’s and your doctor’s recommendations.
I hope this clarifies any questions you may have had about cinnamon and diabetes.
DiabetesCouncils Article | Reviewed by Dr. Sergii Vasyliuk MD on June 10, 2020
Citations
- http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid= 786bafc6f6343634fbf79fcdca7061e1&rgn=div5&view= text&node=21:3.0.1.1.13&idno=21 Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 — Substances Generally Recognized As Safe.
- http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/diacare/30/4/813.full.pdf
- https://www.fasebj.org/doi/abs/10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.722.1
- https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jmf.2010.0300
- http://www.annfammed.org/content/11/5/452.full.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24019277
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