Influence of Cinnamon on Glycemic Control in Individuals With Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

A Systematic Review Evaluating Cinnamon's Effects on Glucose Utilizing a Ranking System to Assess Bias and Study Quality

In the context of diabetes, the use of cinnamon continues to be among the most popular supplements taken by patients for glucose control. To strategically evaluate the available literature comparing various cinnamon species and statistically significant glucose effects after ranking studies based on two tools to assess bias and overall study quality, to clarify cinnamon's role in glucose control. The authors performed a systematic search based upon PRISMA guidelines. The search was conducted utilizing PubMed, AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Medline databases, with the final search performed in September 2022 with restrictions to human subjects and English language. Electronic searches were conducted utilizing the keywords "diabetes mellitus" combined with Cinnamomum zeylanicum/Cinnamomum cassia/Cinnamomum verum combined with blood glucose (BG). A second search utilized "cinnamomum zeylanicum/cinnamomum cassia/cinnamomum verum" combined with "blood glucose," and a final search utilized "diabetes mellitus" combined with "cinnamon." Data extraction and ranking of included studies utilizing the risk of bias 2 tool and modified Heyland Methodological Quality Scoring tool were performed independently by two review authors. These authors compared their results and reconciled any differences in scoring to generate a final ranking of studies. A third author was available for any discrepancies that could not be resolved but was not needed. Forty-five studies were included in the review and were scored for bias and quality. Overall 62% demonstrated statistical significance for positive effects in at least one parameter around BG control. Applying the ranking systems reduced the percentage closer to 50%. Safety was extremely well documented across studies with few adverse effects. Results are limited by heterogeneity of glucose parameters, leading to studies being ranked individually and not synthesized. Cinnamon supplementation likely has a modest positive effect on BG. Based upon the strong safety profile, utilization of this spice as an adjunct to pharmacologic therapy is reasonable.

Cinnamon: an aromatic condiment applicable to chronic kidney disease

Cinnamon, a member of the Lauraceae family, has been widely used as a spice and traditional herbal medicine for centuries and has shown beneficial effects in cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. However, its effectiveness as a therapeutic intervention for chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unproven. The bioactive compounds within cinnamon, such as cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, and cinnamate, can mitigate oxidative stress, inflammation, hyperglycemia, gut dysbiosis, and dyslipidemia, which are common complications in patients with CKD. In this narrative review, we assess the mechanisms by which cinnamon may alleviate complications observed in CKD and the possible role of this spice as an additional nutritional strategy for this patient group.

Sweetly Improving Sugars? Reviewing Cinnamon's Effects on Blood Glucose

Cinnamon is a spice that has been used in various cultures for centuries for its potential health benefits. While there are health claims for a variety of health conditions, it has continuously been explored for its ability to improve glucose handling in diabetes. Cinnamon is a very popular supplement used by patients with diabetes to help normalize blood glucose levels. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to assess the available evidence evaluating effects on diabetes and glucose handling with the use of various species of cinnamon. The intention was to summarize the existing evidence for cinnamon's effects on blood glucose, both for safety and efficacy, to help guide providers and consumers alike. Reviewing the available literature for the different types of cinnamon and their effects on the diabetes disease process, there are multiple proposed mechanisms for how cinnamon could improve diabetes, including increasing insulin sensitivity by multiple receptor signaling pathways, reducing inflammation, enhancing glucose uptake by effects on glucose transporter proteins, and effects on gastric emptying, and blocking glucose absorption. There appears to be conflicting evidence on whether cinnamon produces any significant effect on glucose parameters, and the extent of these effects. There are several variables that could explain these conflicting data, such as patient sample size, doses and formulations of cinnamon used, baseline patient characteristics, and study duration. A more in-depth evaluation and rating of the available evidence could help clarify this, but data suggest that in some circumstances, cinnamon may have modest effects on improving glucose handling in adults. The safety profile also has been demonstrated to be extremely favorable, with very few adverse events reported in the active treatment groups across all studies. Based upon these data, clinicians should consider cinnamon to be a potential adjunctive therapy to traditional diabetes treatments, and should be open to discussing this with patients expressing interest in the supplement.

Cinnamic Acid Attenuates Peripheral and Hypothalamic Inflammation in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Obesity is closely linked to chronic inflammation in peripheral organs and the hypothalamus. Chronic consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) induces the differentiation of Ly6c^high monocytes into macrophages in adipose tissue, the liver, and the brain, as well as the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although cinnamon improves obesity and related diseases, it is unclear which components of cinnamon can affect macrophages and inflammatory cytokines. We performed in silico analyses using ADME, drug-likeness, and molecular docking simulations to predict the active compounds of cinnamon. Among the 82 active compounds of cinnamon, cinnamic acid (CA) showed the highest score of ADME, blood–brain barrier permeability, drug-likeness, and cytokine binding. We then investigated whether CA modulates obesity-induced metabolic profiles and macrophage-related inflammatory responses in HFD-fed mice. While HFD feeding induced obesity, CA ameliorated obesity and related symptoms, such as epididymal fat gain, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia, without hepatic and renal toxicity. CA also improved HFD-induced tumor necrosis factor-α, fat deposition, and macrophage infiltration in the liver and adipose tissue. CA decreased Ly6c^high monocytes, adipose tissue M1 macrophages, and hypothalamic microglial activation. These results suggest that CA attenuates the peripheral and hypothalamic inflammatory monocytes/macrophage system and treats obesity-related metabolic disorders.

Urease Inhibitory Kinetic Studies of Various Extracts and Pure Compounds from Cinnamomum Genus

Urease is an enzyme that plays a significant role in the hydrolysis of urea into carbonic acid and ammonia via the carbamic acid formation. The resultant increase in pH leads to the onset of various pathologies such as gastric cancer, urolithiasis, hepatic coma, hepatic encephalopathy, duodenal ulcers and peptic ulcers. Urease inhibitors can reduce the urea hydrolysis rate and development of various diseases. The Cinnamomum genus is used in a large number of traditional medicines. It is well established that stem bark of Cinnamomum cassia exhibits antiulcerogenic potential. The present study evaluated the inhibitory effect of seven extracts of Cinnamomum camphora, Cinnamomum verum and two pure compounds Camphene and Cuminaldehyde on urease enzyme. Kinetic studies of potential inhibitors were carried out. Methanol extract (IC₅₀ 980 µg/mL) of C. camphora and a monoterpene Camphene (IC₅₀ 0.147 µg/mL) possess significant inhibitory activity. The Lineweaver Burk plot analysis suggested the competitive inhibition by methanol extract, hexane fraction and Camphene. The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC–MS) analysis of hexane fraction revealed the contribution of various terpenes. The present study targets terpenes as a new class of inhibitors that have potential therapeutic value for further development as novel drugs.

Low to no cost remedies for the management of diabetes mellitus; global health concern

Purpose

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic non-communicable endocrine and metabolic disease that is thought to be the fastest emerging health challenge of the twenty-first century. Presently, 90% of diabetic population is handicapped with T2-DM, and the majority of pre-diabetes on the way to T2-DM progression. By keeping in view, a review article has been compiled to highlight the significance of value aided effective, low-cost, safe, and useful remedies that could easily be accessible to the global community in order to moderate the possibility of DM and related complications.

Methods

Literature search for this review was carried out using scientific databases including PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus, Web of science, and google scholar. Whilst, value aided articles were selected on the basis of their therapeutic potential, safety profile and outreach.

Results

Escalating research data validated that herbal remedies and physical activities significantly prevents hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and other complications in people with T2-DM.

Conclusion

Globally, nearly half-billion individuals are living with diabetes. Therefore, it is urged to embrace herbal remedies and physical mediation in our daily routine in order to tackle such devastating disorder.