Does Cinnamon Fix Low Blood Sugar?

Marketers of herbal supplements often vaguely refer to "glucose balance" in labeling cinnamon supplements. As with all herbal supplements, be cautious and take note of scientific studies before deciding to use this much-loved spice as anything more than a flavoring agent.

Diabetes Control

• It's important to note that studies of the effect of cinnamon on glucose levels focus on people with diabetes--not people whose glucose levels are low. Hypoglycemia (low glucose) can be a precursor for later development of diabetes or a complication of diabetes, but cinnamon's effects on glucose levels--if indeed any effects truly exist--are not said to raise low glucose levels into a healthy range. The effect--still being studied--is to possibly lower glucose levels, not raise them.

Early Studies

• An early study, accepted by the American Diabetes Association in 2003, tested 60 people with diabetes, giving them daily doses of up to 6 g of cinnamon for 40 days. The type of cinnamon used for the study was Cinnamomum aromaticum, also called cassia or Chinese cinnamon.

  "The results of this study demonstrate that intake of 1, 3, or 6 g of cinnamon per day reduces serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes and suggest that the inclusion of cinnamon in the diet of people with type 2 diabetes will reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases," researchers concluded.

Later Studies

• Follow-up studies yielded mixed results. While some studies indicate the use of cassia cinnamon is effective in lowering blood glucose and improving lipid levels, not all studies have shown the same results. For example, the April 2006 edition of the Journal of Nutrition, published by the American Society for Nutrition, cites a study by researchers in the Netherlands that shows no improvement among postmenopausal diabetic women.

  "We conclude that cinnamon supplementation ... does not improve whole-body insulin sensitivity or oral glucose tolerance and does not modulate blood lipid profile in postmenopausal patients with type 2 diabetes," researchers in that study wrote. "More research on the proposed health benefits of cinnamon supplementation is warranted before health claims should be made."

More Doubt

• The January 2008 edition of the magazine "Diabetes Care," published by the American Diabetes Association, cites a study, "Effect of Cinnamon on Glucose Control and Lipid Parameters."

  "Cinnamon does not appear to improve A1C, FBG, or lipid parameters in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes," the article states. "Cinnamon's ability to prevent diabetes in patients with pre-diabetes and those at high risk is unknown."

Safety

• Although any benefit of cinnamon is yet to be proven beyond question, it is likely safe for most people to add cinnamon as a dietary supplement.

  According to WebMD, cinnamon might interact with diabetes medication, causing glucose levels to drop too far, so taking more than 6 g per day is probably not a good idea. (One teaspoon is 4.75 g.) Be alert for signs of hypoglycemia, and do not use cinnamon for longer than 40 days at a time, WebMD recommends.

  Coumarin, a chemical found in cassia cinnamon, can provoke liver disease in people who are sensitive to the chemical, or worsen existing liver disease. People with liver disease should not use large amounts of cinnamon.

  Since not enough is known about cinnamon and pregnancy or breast-feeding, WebMD recommends avoiding its use during those times.