Antioxidant effects of a cinnamon extract in people with impaired fasting glucose that are overweight or obese

J Am Coll Nutr. 2009 Feb;28(1):16-21. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2009.10719756.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of a dried aqueous extract of cinnamon on antioxidant status of people with impaired fasting glucose that are overweight or obese.

Methods: Twenty-two subjects, with impaired fasting blood glucose with BMI ranging from 25 to 45, were enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Subjects were given capsules containing either a placebo or 250 mg of an aqueous extract of cinnamon (Cinnulin PF) two times per day for 12 weeks. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were assessed using high performance liquid chromatography and plasma antioxidant status was evaluated using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Erythrocyte Cu-Zn superoxide (Cu-Zn SOD) activity was measured after hemoglobin precipitation by monitoring the auto-oxidation of pyrogallol and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity by established methods.

Results: FRAP and plasma thiol (SH) groups increased, while plasma MDA levels decreased in subjects receiving the cinnamon extract. Effects were larger after 12 than 6 weeks. There was also a positive correlation (r = 0.74; p = 0.014) between MDA and plasma glucose.

Conclusion: This study supports the hypothesis that the inclusion of water soluble cinnamon compounds in the diet could reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cinnamomum zeylanicum*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / blood
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycemia / blood
  • Hyperglycemia / drug therapy
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Malondialdehyde / blood
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / blood
  • Obesity / drug therapy
  • Overweight / blood
  • Overweight / drug therapy*
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Placebos / pharmacology
  • Placebos / therapeutic use
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Pyrogallol / blood
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / blood
  • Superoxide Dismutase / blood

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Placebos
  • Plant Extracts
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Pyrogallol
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Superoxide Dismutase