Is Cinnamon "Spicing Up" Glucose Regulation?

At a time of year when cinnamon is popping up in everything from coffee to candles, we thought we'd take a look at the current debate over whether the spice can regulate glucose levels for people with type 2 diabetes.

A 2003 study generated interest in the possibility that cinnamon could mimic insulin and be effective in the treatment of insulin resistance. The authors of the study found that people who consumed between one and six grams of cinnamon each day had a reduction in their serum glucose, trigylceride, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol.

In 2004, another study found that the polyphenols in cinnamon bark mimic insulin and could potentially be used in some product form to reduce blood sugar levels. In 2007, researchers reviewed additional studies and reported that data from the studies suggested that cinnamon has a possible modest effect in lowering plasma glucose levels in patients with poorly controlled diabetes.

However, some members of the scientific community aren't quite ready to accept these findings. Maria Collazo-Clavell, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist who addresses health issues on MayoClinic.com, cautions that most research suggests that cinnamon isn't an effective treatment for type 1 or type 2 diabetes. She urges diabetics to contact their doctors if they have questions or concerns about their diabetes treatment plans.