Cinnamon and probiotics improved metabolic factors
- Cinnamon improves lipid profiles
Cinnamon contains compounds that help lower elevated blood sugar by stimulating insulin. In addition, cinnamon has beneficial lipid-regulating effects, which can become imbalanced in diabetes. This review of 14 clinical trials covered 965 people with type 2 diabetes, aged between 52 and 64, who took a placebo or doses of cinnamon between 120 and 3,000 mg per day, in studies lasting from six to 16 weeks. All participants were taking one or more anti-diabetic medications or insulin.
Overall, those taking cinnamon saw triglycerides decrease an average of 7.31 mg per deciliter of blood (mg/dL); saw HDL improve by 1.54 mg/dL, and LDL decrease by 6.78 mg/dL, on average. In doses of cinnamon up to 1,200 mg per day, blood sugar-lowering effects averaged 11.1 mg/dL. Total cholesterol and long-term average blood sugar levels did not change.
REFERENCE: NUTRIENTS; 2023, VOL. 15, NO. 13, ARTICLE NO. 15132983
- Probiotics reduced body mass
In this study, 180 overweight men and women, aged at least 18, took a placebo or three strains of the probiotic L. fermentum, with or without the soluble fiber, acacia gum, per day.
After 12 weeks, both probiotics groups lost an average 1.3 pounds of fat mass while the placebo group gained a quarter pound. The probiotics groups also saw improvements in body mass index scores, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and fat surrounding organs and liver fat.
In a related review of 37 studies covering 2,502 participants, a multi-strain probiotic reduced body mass, insulin resistance, fasting glucose and insulin levels, long-term average blood sugar levels, and lipids.
Reference: Nutrients; 2023, Vol. 15, No. 13, Article No. 15133039
