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What if cinnamon could improve blood sugar levels in prediabetic individuals?

A recent study suggests that a type of cinnamon may provide relief to patients with type 2 diabetes. This spice is indeed touted as being able to lower blood sugar prediabetic patients! However, several previous studies do not point in the same direction.

Not just any type of cinnamon

The four main kinds of cinnamon are Padang cinnamon, Chinese cinnamon (or cassia), Saigon cinnamon and Ceylon cinnamon. In a study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society on July 21, 2020, Dr. Giulio Romeo of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston (USA) praises the merits of Chinese cinnamon. The latter would be a inexpensive and effective means slow the progression of prediabetes that can lead to a severe form of type 2 diabetes.

During a dozen weeks, the researchers observed 51 patients with high blood sugar levels . It is a question of a higher than normal blood glucose concentration. In other words, these people had prediabetes. The objective of this work was to observe the potential positive effects of Chinese cinnamon in their diet. Researchers gave patients 500mg capsules of spice to be taken three times a day, for the duration of the experience. As a result, the blood sugar levels of these volunteers were lower than those in the placebo group.

If the study directors are convinced of the positive effects spice through food, however, they warn. According to them, adding cinnamon can be dangerous if used in too large amounts. It should therefore be reasonably used as a substitute for sugar , salt and other spices not recommended for diabetics.

What if cinnamon could improve blood sugar levels in prediabetic individuals?

Contradictory studies

Like this recent study, other previous research has shown Chinese cinnamon to have positive effects on blood sugar. This is particularly the case of a study including eighteen volunteers published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolic Insights in 2012. This research showed that the use of this spice wasmore effective than a diet strict. There is also another study of sixty people published in Diabetes Care in 2003. According to researchers, small doses of Chinese cinnamon can lower blood sugar.

However, other searches did not yield good results. This is particularly the case of a meta-analysis published by the NIH of the United States in 2012 relating to a dozen randomized trials. The authors felt they did not find sufficient evidence regarding the possible effects of the spice on blood sugar.