Effects of Cinnamon on Fasting Blood Sugar and Hemoglobin A1C in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background and Diabetes is a chronic disease which requires lifelong use of drugs. These drugs have high costs, therefore, there is a need to find economic, efficient, simple, and local solutions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of oral supplementation of cinnamon on glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in patients with type II diabetes.
This clinical trial was conducted in 136 patients with type II diabetes in Birjand, Iran 2015. They were randomly assigned into intervention or placebo groups (n=68 per group). Subjects in the intervention group received 500 mg of cinnamon three times a day after breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 90 days (1500 mg daily). While the other group were advised to take the placebo in the same manner. Fasting blood sugar and HbA1c levels were measured before and after the study.
In this study, the levels of HbA1c reduced significantly in intervention group after the treatment (P≤0.05). Daily intake of 1500 mg of cinnamon for 90 days was found to be effective in reducing glycosylated hemoglobin levels, but it did not have a significant effect on reducing fasting blood sugar in 90 days (P≥0.05).
Daily dose of 1500 mg of cinnamon for 90 days significantly reduced the HbA1C levels in type II diabetic patients and also had a moderate effect on fasting blood sugar concentrations. Therefore, it is recommended alongside conventional medication used in treatment of type II diabetes mellitus.