Meta-Analysis Concludes Cinnamon and Cinnamon Extract Lowers Blood Glucose in People with Type 2 Diabetes or Prediabetes

TUSTIN, Calif., Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new Meta-Analysis of eight human clinical trials examining the effect of cinnamon consumption in people with Type 2 diabetes and/or prediabetes concluded cinnamon extract and/or cinnamon lowers blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Published in the Journal of Medicinal Foods, the study "Cinnamon Intake Lowers Fasting Blood Glucose: Meta-Analysis" was conducted by Paul A. Davis, Department of Nutrition, University of California – Davis, and Wallace H. Yokoyama, Western Regional Research Center, US Department of Agriculture.  

Researchers Davis and Yokoyama said their results "show that consuming cinnamon, especially cinnamon extract, does produce a modest but statistically significant lowering in Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG)." All studies used in the meta-analysis were randomized, placebo-controlled human clinical trials, previously published in peer-reviewed journals and available through searching Biosis (Biostat Inc.) and Pub Med.  

When isolating those studies using only cinnamon extract the researchers found that "a significant overall effect on blood glucose levels" was retained.  "The fact that water extracts of cinnamon have (bioactive) activity suggests that these may be preferable in terms of use compared with whole cinnamon," they said.

"Using water extracts of cinnamon achieves the desired blood glucose effects while avoiding the nonpolar constituents in whole cinnamon or the cinnamon flavor components that have been linked to deleterious effects (e.g., oral lesions and mutagenicity)," they added.

Aqueous cinnamon extraction, which uses only cinnamon, water, heat and pressure, creates concentrated levels of specific procyanidins believed to be the active ingredients in promoting healthy glucose levels.  

The researchers also noted that consumption of "high doses of Cinnamomum cassia have raised concern due to the presence of coumarin," a naturally occurring compound in cinnamon.  "Coumarin is poorly soluble in water," they noted, and other researchers have shown that the water extract contains very low levels of coumarin.

Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States.(1) While the medical cost of diabetes and prediabetes in 2010 averaged $194 billion, the rising numbers of Americans with diabetes and prediabetes is expected to drive healthcare costs to $500 billion by 2020.(2)

Davis and Yokoyama said that with 300 million people affected by diabetes globally, "the epidemic of type 2 diabetes worldwide has resulted in a pressing need to explore low-cost therapeutic approaches that reduce diabetes risk."

CinSulin® was the cinnamon extract used in three of the four studies evaluated in the meta-analysis. CinSulin® is manufactured under US Patent #6200569.  Available in the U.S. since 2004, CinSulin is used by several supplement manufacturers including VitaTech International, Inc., a premier health sciences formulation and manufacturing company with a 57 year history of serving the natural products Industry. VitaTech International will email a copy of the new clinical research study to consumers, physicians or the news media upon request ([email protected]). Information about CinSulin may be found at www.cinsulin.com.  

"The rising number of Americans with diabetes is growing at an alarming rating and taking a huge toll on the nation's healthcare costs. VitaTech is excited this new clinical research evaluates the ability of dietary supplements to control blood sugar within normal levels," said Tom Tierney, President & CEO of VitaTech.

About VitaTech International
With its laboratory pharmaceutically licensed by the FDA since 1954, Vita-Tech is known for providing among the industry's highest manufacturing standards that exceed requirements of many regulatory agencies. The company complies with the FDAs current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and FDA purity standards for dietary supplements. As experts in the global nutraceuticals marketplace, they also help clients succeed in contract and private label manufacturing with a Ph.D. level formulation team, expert sourcing of raw materials from vendors globally and custom manufacturing. For more information visit www.vitatech.com.

(1)National Institute of Health http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics/#fast
(2)United States of Diabetes: Challenges and opportunities in the decade ahead, United Health Group, November 2012, http://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/hrm/UNH_WorkingPaper5.pdf

SOURCE VitaTech International