The consumption of cinnamon is associated with a statistically significant decrease in levels of fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels, and an increase in HDL-C levels.
To put the results of our meta-analysis into better context, the reductions found can be compared with established therapies. As an example, the reductions in fasting plasma glucose levels (−24.59 mg/dL) are less than those achieved by metformin monotherapy (−58 mg/dL) and somewhat more than the newer oral agents, such as sitagliptin (−16 to −21 mg/dL). Our results showed cinnamon to reduce LDL-C and triglyceride levels by approximately 9.4 and 29.6 mg/dL, respectively. As a comparison, the lipid-lowering drugs pravastatin and gemfibrozil reduce LDL-C and triglyceride levels by approximately 50 mg/dL (26%) and 50 mg/dL (31%), respectively.
Based on currently available literature, cinnamon may have a beneficial effect on fasting plasma glucose, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglyceride levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. There is no statistically significant effect on hemoglobin A1c, however. Caution should be exercised in applying the results of this analysis to patient care because of the certainty of the dose and duration of cinnamon use and uncertainty of the ideal patient population.
