General Information
About Diabetes

Independent Cinnamon Clinical Studies

1. Cinnergen contains cinnamon bark liquid extract at a daily serving size of 560 mg. This amount of cinnamon has been clinically demonstrated to lower blood glucose levels in four well controlled studies (Mang et al 2006; Khan et al 2003; Solomon & Blannin 2007; Hlebowicz et al. 2007). One randomized placebo-controlled study (Khan et al 2003) investigated the effects of cinnamon powder at doses of 1, 3, and 6 g/day on fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels in 60 patients (30 men, 30 women) with type 2 diabetes. These doses are equivalent to 112, 336, and 672 mg per day of cinnamon liquid extract, respectively (Mang et al. 2006). Significant reductions (18—29%) in serum glucose levels were noted in patients receiving cinnamon at all doses compared with those receiving placebo after 40 days of treatment (p < 0.05). This study, therefore, demonstrated that multiple doses of cinnamon powder (all doses comparable to or lower than the amount of cinnamon found in Cinnergen) are capable of effectively lowering fasting glucose concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes.

2. Other clinical studies assessing the effectiveness of cinnamon provide additional support for cinnamon's blood glucose-lowering properties. A 4-month, randomized placebo-controlled study of 79 patients with type 2 diabetes (Mang et al. 2006) demonstrated that 336 mg per day of purified cinnamon liquid extract resulted in a significant blood glucose reduction of 10.3% compared to the placebo-treated subjects (3.4% reduction). In a randomized-crossover study, cinnamon ingestion (equivalent to 560 mg per day) significantly reduced total plasma glucose responses to oral glucose ingestion by 13% in an oral glucose tolerance tests (Solomon & Blannin 2007). Another crossover trial (Hlebowicz et al. 2007) involving 14 healthy subjects found that cinnamon powder (equivalent to 672 mg per day) significantly delayed gastric emptying and lowered the postprandial glucose response. Finally, subjects with type 2 diabetes who consume an aqueous extract of cinnamon have been shown to have improved fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, percent body fat and increased lean body mass compared with a placebo control group (Anderson 2008).

Cinnamon May Help to Alleviate Diabetes

Santa Barbara, Calif. — Cinnamon may be more than a spice — it may have a medical application in preventing and combating diabetes. Cinnamon may help by playing the role of an insulin substitute in type II diabetes, according to cellular and molecular studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Iowa State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Cinnamon itself has insulin-like activity and also can potentiate the activity of insulin," said Don Graves of UCSB. "The latter could be quite important in treating those with type II diabetes. Cinnamon has a bio-active component that we believe has the potential to prevent or overcome diabetes..." Click Here for More Info

Cinnamon Study on Type 2 Diabetes, Blood Glucose and Cholesterol

ABSTRACT

Objective — The objective of this study was to determine whether cinnamon improves blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Research Design and Methods — A total of 60 people with type 2 diabetes, 30 men and 30 women aged 52.2 ± 6.32 years, were divided randomly into six groups. Groups 1, 2, and 3 consumed 1, 3, or 6 g of cinnamon daily, respectively, and groups 4, 5, and 6 were given placebo capsules corresponding to the number of capsules consumed for the three levels of cinnamon. The cinnamon was consumed for 40 days followed by a 20-day washout period.

Results — After 40 days, all three levels of cinnamon reduced the mean fasting serum glucose (18-29%), triglyceride (23-30%), LDL cholesterol (7-27%), and total cholesterol (12-26%) levels; no significant changes were noted in the placebo groups. Changes in HDL cholesterol were not significant.

Conclusions — 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... Click Here for More Info

Blueberry Leaf Extract Helps Lower Glucose

Human Clinical Study: Healthy Volunteers — Russian scientist Dr. M. Abidoff evaluated the glucose-lowering properties of blueberry leaves extract in double-blind placebo controlled study at Moscow Center for Modern Medicine, Russian Ministry for National Defense Industries (Abidoff 1999, Abidoff-Farma), Russia... Human Clinical Study: Diabetes Patients —In a second clinical trial the effect of blueberry leaves extract on plasma glucose level was studied in patients with type 2 Diabetics (Abidoff 1999). Click here for more Info