The beneficial effect of cinnamon was being studied
in the recent years. A double blind, placebo controlled study has shown that the
consumption of 1.5 gms (Half a teaspoonful) of cinnamon powder daily, physical
activity and balanced diet may reduce insulin resistance in diabetics and lower
the bad fats (LDL) level.
 |
| English: Cinnamon (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Cinnamon may help remedy lipid profiles and have
therapeutic benefits in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD),
according to a new Iranian trial. The trial was conducted by Dr. Hekmatdoost and
colleagues of the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran and was
published online in the Nutrition Research on 9th December, 2013.
It was found that 12 weeks consumption of 1.5 grams
(half of a teaspoon) cinnamon per day plus a balanced diet improves insulin
resistance and eases Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) by lowering the
LDL (Low density Lipoprotein) level. The effect may be due to the anti-oxidant
and insulin-sensitizer properties of cinnamon.
The researchers studied 50 patients who were
randomized to two 750 mg capsules of cinnamon or placebo daily for 12 weeks.
All patients were given advice on how to integrate a balanced diet and physical
activity into their daily lives.
In both groups, LDL cholesterol dropped significantly but there was no
significant change in serum HDL cholesterol levels. After 12 weeks, LDL levels
were 55.8 mg/dL in the treatment group and 90.3 mg/dL in the placebo group
(p=0.032).In the active treatment group there were also significant decreases in the HOMA (Homeostatic Model Assessment) index, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride; and liver enzymes like alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. This was also true of gamma glutamine transpeptidase and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
The researchers note that although the study was small, the findings are in line with those of other studies and confirm their hypothesis that cinnamon supplementation can reduce the main characteristics of NAFLD, including insulin resistance, liver enzymes, and the inflammatory marker hs-CRP.
More studies are needed, they conclude, but it appears that cinnamon "could be a good adjuvant therapeutic option for this disease."
