Effect of cinnamon supplementation on glucose, lipids levels, glomerular filtration rate, and blood pressure of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed to investigate the effect of cinnamon supplementation on glucose, triglyceride (TG), and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, TG/HDL-C ratio, blood pressure (BP), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for ninety-nine type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Forty nine (49) patients with T2DM were in the cinnamon group whereas 50 were in the placebo group. All participants received either a cinnamon or placebo capsule daily for the 60-day study period. At the end of the study, median glucose, TG, TG/HDL-C ratio, and BP were significantly decreased (p < 0.005) whereas HDL-C and eGFR levels were significantly increased (p < 0.005) in the cinnamon supplementation group. Interestingly, the study also revealed reduction of HbA1c levels after the 60-day study period. In the placebo group, glucose, TG levels tended to increase and HDL-C levels tended to decrease whereas systolic and diastolic BP, HbA1c, and BUN CT were significantly increased and eGFR was significantly reduced (p < 0.005). Cinnamon supplementation reduced plasma glucose, HbA1c, triglyceride, TG/HDL-C ratio, and BP and increased HDL-C levels and eGFR in subjects with T2DM. Cinnamon supplementation may be beneficial for those with T2DM to prevent and control diabetic complications. © 2015, The Japan Diabetes Society.