Cassia

Cinnamon/Nutrient Depletion:

  • GlucoseGlucose: In vitro and in animal research, cinnamon lowered blood glucose levels and acted as an insulin mimetic (97; 98; 99; 100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105; 106; 107; 108; 109; 92; 110; 111; 112; 113; 96; 114; 115; 116; 117; 118; 119; 120; 121; 122). Human data, however, have demonstrated conflicting results (123; 124; 125; 103; 126; 127; 128; 129; 191).
  • LipidsLipids: In animal research, Cinnamomum zeylanicum significantly decreased serum total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations and markedly increased HDL cholesterol levels (136; 137). In animal research, cinnamate, a phenolic compound in cinnamon bark, produced higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and lower atherogenic index compared to lovastatin (137). Cinnamate inhibited hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity (137). In hamsters, a water extract of cinnamon (Cinnulin PF?) inhibited the postprandial overproduction of apo B48-containing lipoproteins and serum triglyceride levels, and inhibited cluster of differentiation (CD) 36 and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP) (359). However, these results were in contrast to another study that did not show any cholesterol-lowering effect in serum and liver cholesterol levels of rats when included in the diet at about fivefold the normal human intake level (51). Human data, however, have demonstrated conflicting results (191)