Does Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Attenuates Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?

Background: India is home to the second largest number of adults living with diabetes after China. Although modern diabetic drugs treat the condition effectively, prolonged usage leads to adverse effects. Plants have been a good source of medicine from ancient time. Among spices, the inner bark of cinnamon is authenticated as traditional medicine.

Objectives: To study whether cinnamon infusion improve blood glucose level in type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects.

Materials and Methods: In the current study, the effectiveness of seventy five ml of Cinnamomum zeylanicum infusion on plasma glucose, serum fructosamine and serum insulin of the selected subjects with type 2 diabetes were studied for a period of 45 days. Within-subjects design was used for the supplementation intervention.

Results: Cinnamon zeylanicum has shown to increase glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis. In addition, cinnamon zeylanicum aids in triggering the insulin receptor cascade system. After 45 days supplementation, fasting glucose decreased (p < 0.001) from 144.53 to 115.43 mg/dL. Post prandial glucose decreased (p<0.001) from 205.66 to 164.33mg/dL. Serum fructosamine and insulin also showed marked improvements.

Conclusion: Supplementation with Cinnamomum Zeylanicum infusion for forty five days reduced fasting glucose, fructosamine and decreased insulin levels of subjects with elevated blood glucose.