January 20, 2004 Volume 40 Issue 03
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                  NUTRITION

            Cinnamon may help reduce blood sugar

            By Doug PayneÂ

            BELTSVILLE, MD. - Researchers at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Centre here have found a
"significant" reduction-an average 20% lower-in blood sugar levels resulting
from ingesting cinnamon. The effect, though, stops soon after the cinnamon
intake is stopped.

            The researchers were looking at the effects of common foods on
blood sugar and found that a favourite, apple pie, actually helped lower
blood sugar levels. They determined that the active ingredient in cinnamon-a
water-soluble polyphenol compound called MHCP-mimicked insulin in test tube
experiments by activating its receptor, and worked synergistically with
insulin in cells.

            Even soaking a cinnamon stick in a cup of tea produced the
effect.

            A total of 60 volunteers with type 2 diabetes (30 men and 30
women ages 52 to 63 years) took part in a small study in Pakistan to see if
the same thing happened in people. They consumed 1 g, 3 g or 6 g of cinnamon
powder a day, in capsules after meals, for 40 days followed by a 20-day
washout period. All responded within weeks, with blood sugar levels that
were on average 20% lower than controls.

            There were reductions in mean fasting serum glucose (18% to
29%), triglyceride (23% to 30%), LDL cholesterol (7% to 27%), and total
cholesterol (12% to 26%) levels; no significant changes were noted in the
placebo groups. Changes in HDL cholesterol were not significant.

            Add powdered spice to foods

            The active ingredient is not found in cinnamon oils. But
powdered spice can be added to toast, cereal, juice or coffee. The group now
plans to test even lower doses of cinnamon in the U.S., and also look at
long-term blood sugar management with the spice. Their study appeared in the
journal Diabetes Care.

            "The results suggest that the inclusion of cinnamon in the diet
of people with type 2 diabetes will reduce risk factors associated with
diabetes and cardiovascular diseases," said corresponding author Richard
Anderson (PhD).

            He added, "I don't recommend eating more cinnamon buns, or even
more apple pie-there's too much fat and sugar. The key is to add cinnamon to
what you would eat normally."



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