Cinnamon spice produces healthier blood

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Cinnamon spice produces healthier blood

17:52 24 November 03

NewScientist.com news service

Just half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly

reduces blood sugar levels in diabetics, a new study

has found. The effect, which can be produced even by

soaking a cinnamon stick your tea, could also benefit

millions of non-diabetics who have blood sugar problem

but are unaware of it.

The discovery was initially made by accident, by

at the US Department of Agriculture's

Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville,

land.

" We were looking at the effects of common foods on

blood sugar, " he told New Scientist. One was the

American favourite, apple pie, which is usually spiced

with cinnamon. " We expected it to be bad. But it

helped, " he says.

Sugars and starches in food are broken down into

glucose, which then circulates in the blood. The

hormone insulin makes cells take in the glucose, to be

used for energy or made into fat.

But people with Type 1 diabetes do not produce enough

insulin. Those with Type 2 diabetes produce it, but

have lost sensitivity to it. Even apparently healthy

people, especially if they are overweight, sedentary

or over 25, lose sensitivity to insulin. Having too

much glucose in the blood can cause serious long-term

damage to eyes, kidneys, nerves and other organs.

The active ingredient in cinnamon turned out to be a

water-soluble polyphenol compound called MHCP. In test

tube experiments, MHCP mimics insulin, activates its

receptor, and works synergistically with insulin in

cells.

To see if it would work in people, Alam Khan, who was

a postdoctoral fellow in 's lab, organised a

study in Pakistan. Volunteers with Type 2 diabetes

were given one, three or six grams of cinnamon powder

a day, in capsules after meals.

All responded within weeks, with blood sugar levels

that were on average 20 per cent lower than a control

group. Some even achieved normal blood sugar levels.

Tellingly, blood sugar started creeping up again after

the diabetics stopped taking cinnamon.

The cinnamon has additional benefits. In the

volunteers, it lowered blood levels of fats and " bad "

cholesterol, which are also partly controlled by

insulin. And in test tube experiments it neutralised

free radicals, damaging chemicals which are elevated

in diabetics.

" I don't recommend eating more cinnamon buns, or even

more apple pie - there's too much fat and sugar, " says

. " The key is to add cinnamon to what you

would eat normally. "

The active ingredient is not in cinnamon oils. But

powdered spice can be added to toast, cereal, juice or

coffee.

's team were awarded patents related to MHCP

in 2002. But the chemical is easily obtained. He notes

that one of his colleagues tried soaking a cinnamon

stick in tea. " He isn't diabetic - but it lowered is

blood sugar, " says.

The group now plans to test even lower doses of

cinnamon in the US, and also look at long-term blood

sugar management with the spice.

Journal reference: Diabetes Care (vol 26, p 3125)

Debora MacKenzie