Chinese cinnamon for improving glycemic control and blood lipids in adults with type 2 diabetes Original paper

Cinnamon, a spice obtained from the inner bark of tree species from the Cinnamomum genus, has potential antidiabetic and lipid-lowering properties. However, clinical trials exploring these potential effects in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have reported conflicting results.

This meta-analysis of 8 clinical trials (7 randomized and 1 nonrandomized) examined the effects of supplementation with Cassia (Chinese cinnamon) bark powder on markers of glycemic control or blood lipids in 510 adults with T2D.

The markers examined were fasting blood glucose (7 trials), glycosylated hemoglobin (7 trials), triglycerides (6 trials), total cholesterol (6 trials), LDL cholesterol (6 trials), and HDL cholesterol (4 trials). The dosages of Cassia bark ranged between 1 and 2 grams per day, and the treatment durations ranged between 40 and 90 days.

Cassia bark supplementation did not affect any of the outcomes examined.

There was considerable heterogeneity in the analyses of fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. Of the 8 trials, 4 had a low risk of bias, and 4 had a high risk of bias.