Cinnamon: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications
Other name(s)
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Scientific name(s)
Cinnamomum verum
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Proanthocyanidins
Polyphenols
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Type 2 Diabetes ✪✪✪✪✪
Some clinical studies of cinnamon in diabetic patients have found significant benefits, while others have not confirmed these benefits. The best evidence comes from a meta-analysis of these clinical trials, which included 543 adults with type 2 diabetes. The results show that taking 120 mg to 6 grams of cassia cinnamon per day for 4 to 18 weeks reduces fasting blood glucose levels by an average of 25 mg/dL, total cholesterol by 16 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 9 mg/dL, and triglycerides by 30 mg/dL, and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by 2 mg/dL. Conversely, cinnamon has no effect on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), although many studies were too short to detect a significant change. The studies were also small and highly heterogeneous concerning dose, duration, use of conventional medications, and baseline diabetes control. It seems that the duration of use, dosage, and baseline glycemic levels could be important factors influencing outcomes and deserve further study. Additionally, effects on type 2 diabetes are more promising than on type 1 diabetes. In patients with type 1 diabetes, clinical research shows that daily cinnamon intake does not improve fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin sensitivity, or the frequency of hypoglycemic episodes. Another factor is the type of cinnamon used, as many different species are available in products, and they may differ in their chemical composition and resulting activities. For example, some studies have used water-soluble cinnamon extract, rather than the whole spice. Unfortunately, some studies do not specify which cinnamon was used, making study interpretation difficult. Finally, the use of antidiabetic medications in conjunction with cinnamon may yield better results. An early successful study conducted in patients taking sulfonylureas (a drug that increases insulin secretion) showed significant effects on fasting blood glucose. Indeed, increased insulin secretion, combined with cinnamon's role in reducing insulin resistance, could lead to better results.
Posologie
Oral: bark
120 - 6000 mg
12 - weeks
powder, dry extract
Effect of cinnamon on glucose and lipid levels in non insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes
The effect of cinnamon cassia powder in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Cinnamon use in type 2 diabetes: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Effect of cinnamon on glucose control and lipid parameters
The effect of cinnamon on A1C among adolescents with type 1 diabetes
Cinnamon extract improves fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin level in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes
Effects of a cinnamon extract on plasma glucose, HbA, and serum lipids in diabetes mellitus type 2
Cinnamon supplementation does not improve glycemic control in postmenopausal type 2 diabetes patients
Efficacy of cinnamon in patients with type II diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled clinical trial
Glycated haemoglobin and blood pressure-lowering effect of cinnamon in multi-ethnic Type 2 diabetic patients in the UK: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial
Effectiveness of cinnamon for lowering hemoglobin A1C in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, controlled trial
Cinnamon in glycaemic control: Systematic review and meta analysis
Dietary cinnamon supplementation and changes in systolic blood pressure in subjects with type 2 diabetes
Digestive Disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
The essential oil of cinnamon bark and ground cinnamon bark are used in the treatment of dyspeptic conditions, such as mild spasmodic states of the gastrointestinal tract, fullness, and flatulence, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Although controlled studies are not available, evidence of antispasmodic activity in animal models and a long tradition of use provide some support for its use in these indications. Cinnamon bark and Chinese cinnamon are approved by the German Commission E for the treatment of loss of appetite and dyspeptic complaints such as mild gastrointestinal spasms, bloating, and flatulence. The ESCOP indicates that cinnamon is used in dyspeptic conditions such as gastrointestinal spasms, bloating and flatulence, loss of appetite, diarrhea...
Posologie
Oral: bark
500 - 1500 mg
powder, essential oil, dry extract
Metabolic Syndrome ✪✪✪✪✪
The results on the effectiveness of Cinnamon among pre-diabetics are contradictory. A small clinical study conducted on patients with glucose intolerance shows that taking 6 g of cinnamon powder (C. cassia) twice a day for 12 weeks does not improve fasting blood glucose or insulin sensitivity compared to placebo. However, a water-soluble cinnamon extract (Cinnulin PF 500 mg/day) significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and systolic blood pressure and increased lean body mass, according to a placebo-controlled trial conducted on 22 subjects with pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The study was conducted over 12 weeks and also detected slight but statistically significant decreases in body fat in the cinnamon-treated group when intra-group analyses were performed. Another clinical study conducted on overweight or obese patients with impaired fasting glucose shows that taking a dried aqueous extract of cassia cinnamon 250 mg twice per day for 12 weeks reduces fasting blood glucose by approximately 12 mg/dL from baseline, but does not affect fasting insulin levels. Another preliminary clinical trial conducted on overweight or obese patients with glucose intolerance shows that daily intake of two capsules of a specific product (Glycabiane, PiLeJe) containing 228 mg of cassia cinnamon extract, 10 mcg of chromium chloride, and 100 mg of carnosine per capsule, for 4 months, reduces fasting blood glucose by 6.5 mg/dL but has no effect on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin sensitivity, or body weight, compared to placebo.
Posologie
Oral: bark
500 mg
powder, dry extract
Synergies
Effects of a water-soluble cinnamon extract on body composition and features of the metabolic syndrome in pre-diabetic men and women
Cinnamon supplementation positively affects obesity: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
A Dietary Supplement Containing Cinnamon, Chromium and Carnosine Decreases Fasting Plasma Glucose and Increases Lean Mass in Overweight or Obese Pre-Diabetic Subjects: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Efficacy and safety of cinnamon in type 2 diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes patients: A meta-analysis and meta-regression
Antioxidant effects of a cinnamon extract in people with impaired fasting glucose that are overweight or obese
Gestational Diabetes ✪✪✪✪✪
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted on 51 women with gestational diabetes revealed that 6 weeks of treatment with 1g of cinnamon per day resulted in a trend towards reducing insulin needs (53.85% for cinnamon vs. 44% for placebo); however, this trend was not significant. The cinnamon used was C. cassia. Researchers suggested that a longer treatment duration might be necessary to achieve better results.
Posologie
Oral: bark
1000 mg
powder, dry extract
Dysmenorrhea ✪✪✪✪✪
Cinnamon has been traditionally used for gynecological problems in women such as dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, lactation, and labor pains. A small study demonstrated that using cinnamon (Cinnamomum Zeylancium) at a dose of 3g per day can significantly reduce the intensity of menstrual pain.
Posologie
Oral: bark
3000 mg
powder
Bacterial Infections ✪✪✪✪✪
Cinnamon has been traditionally used for common infections like bronchial, ENT, urinary or gastrointestinal infections. In TCM, it is considered to warm the kidneys and fortify yang, and is therefore used for impotence, among other indications.
Posologie
Oral: bark
1500 mg
powder, essential oil, dry extract
Cough ✪✪✪✪✪
Cinnamon has numerous applications in traditional medicine. It has been used against cough, abdominal cramps, and intestinal spasms.
Posologie
Oral: bark
1500 mg
powder, essential oil, dry extract
Warts ✪✪✪✪✪
Cinnamon essential oil, rich in cinnamaldehyde, is traditionally used to treat warts, thanks to its dermocaustic properties that act directly on the lesion. Use pure or diluted in vegetable oil.
Posologie
Topical: bark
3 drops
essential oil
Properties
Antibacterial
Several in vitro studies have identified broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal effects for both species of cinnamon. These effects have been mainly attributed to cinnamaldehyde, although other constituents such as eugenol, caryophyllene, and 1,8-cineole also exhibit antimicrobial properties. The C. verum species has shown activity against a wide range of bacteria and fungi, including Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica. Cinnamon extracts have proven superior to two other antifungals (garlic and calendula) in an in vitro study and have been recommended as an effective herbal treatment for candidiasis. In vitro, cinnamon extracts significantly inhibit Helicobacter pylori with an effect equal to or greater than commonly used antibiotics. Similarly, cinnamon bark essential oil allows for the in vitro inhibition of pathogenic respiratory strains (S. pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, S. aureus, H. influenzae, etc.).
Usages associés
Hypoglycemic
Type A and B procyanidin oligomers present in various extracts of Cinnamon cassia have been identified as having hypoglycemic activity and can improve insulin sensitivity in the treatment of rats with induced type 2 diabetes. Polyphenolic polymers such as hydroxychalcone found in cassia cinnamon seem to potentiate the action of insulin. These compounds appear to increase the phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, thereby enhancing insulin sensitivity. Increased insulin sensitivity can improve blood glucose control and lipid levels. Cinnamon extracts also seem to activate glycogen synthase and increase glucose uptake. Research on animals and in vitro suggests that cassia cinnamon has a more significant insulin-stimulating effect than Ceylon cinnamon. Research conducted in healthy humans shows that cassia cinnamon improves blood glucose control and insulin sensitivity in the short term; however, clinical trials on diabetic patients have yielded conflicting results.
Usages associés
Digestive Effect
Cinnamon is traditionally used to aid digestion and as a carminative in association with other plants, in cases of flatulence, bloating, mild gastrointestinal spasms, and as an appetite stimulant.
Usages associés
Antifungal
The bark of Cinnamomum cassia has demonstrated a strong antifungal activity against strains of Candida albicans. Among the different extracts tested, the chloroform extract proved to be the most effective, with inhibition zones reaching up to 60 mm and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.10 µg/ml for Candida albicans ATCC 10231. These results even surpass those of amphotericin B, a reference antifungal. The bioactive compounds identified in the bark include terpenes, flavonoids, and alkaloids, which are responsible for these remarkable antifungal effects.
Uricosuric Effect
Cinnamon bark extract has been studied in combination with Chrysanthemum indicum flower extract. The combination reduced serum uric acid levels in rats and promotes uric acid excretion in urine. This association also inhibits xanthine oxidase activity, hepatic uric acid production, and cellular uric acid uptake in vitro.
Cardiovascular
Data from animal experiments suggest that cinnamon might have a beneficial effect on lipid metabolism control. Animal studies have shown that treatment with a water-soluble cinnamon extract induces a decrease in blood glucose and postprandial serum triglycerides.
Usages associés
Safety dosage
Adult from 18 years: 500 mg - 4000 mg
- infusion: 2 to 4 g of Ceylon cinnamon bark for 1 cup of boiling water, infuse 10 minutes, drink 2 to 3 times a day - dried bark: 1.5 to 4 g per day - powder 0.5 to 1.5 g per day; - essential oil: 0.005 to 0.2 g per day; - fluid extract (1:1 at 70% alcohol) 2-4 ml
Interactions
Médicaments
Anti-diabetic: weak interaction
Cassia cinnamon may lower blood glucose levels and have additive effects in patients treated with anti-diabetic agents. Adjustments to diabetes medication dosages might be necessary.
Antiplatelets/Anticoagulant: weak interaction
In vitro, cinnamaldehyde, a principal compound of Cinnamoni Cortex, inhibits the release of arachidonic acid and therefore the formation of thromboxane B2. It can thus reduce platelet aggregation. Theoretically, the concomitant use of C.cassia with anticoagulants/antiplatelet agents could increase the risk of bleeding.
Precautions
Liver disorders: avoid
Coumarins taken orally in high doses are known to cause liver damage in rodents and similar isolated incidents of hepatotoxicity have been observed in humans. C. cassia contains high amounts of coumarin (up to 87,000 mg/kg) compared to C. verum or C. burmannii. Warning from several European health agencies regarding the consumption of large amounts of cassia, due to its high coumarin content. Hepatotoxic doses of coumarin in therapy: 50-7000 mg/day. (tolerable daily intake of coumarins from food: 0-0.1mg/kg body weight) The French agency recommends not exceeding 0.1mg/kg/day of essential oil (i.e., 3g of Chinese cinnamon).
Lactating women: avoid
There is not enough reliable information available about the safety of cassia cinnamon when used in medicinal amounts during breastfeeding.
Children up to 18 years: use with caution
Half the dose compared to adults.
Contraindications
Pregnant women: prohibited
C. cassia or C. zeylanicum/verum should not be used during pregnancy; however, usual dietary intakes are likely safe. Currently, evidence of teratogenicity from animal studies is contradictory.
