From the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Deptartment of Health and Human Services
Cinnamon
Latin Names: Cinnamomum verum (also known as Cinnamomum zeylanicum), Cinnamomum aromaticum (also known as Cinnamomum cassia)
Background
There are many types of cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), grown primarily in Sri Lanka, is known as “true” cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum), grown in southeastern Asia, is the most common type sold in North America.
Used
as a spice for thousands of years, cinnamon comes from the bark of
various species of cinnamon trees. The leaves, flowers, fruits, and
roots of cinnamon trees have also been used in cooking and for
medicinal purposes. There are differences in the chemical composition
of cinnamon products produced from different species or parts of
cinnamon trees.
Cinnamon has a long history of use in
traditional medicine in various parts of the world, including China,
India, and Persia (Iran).
Today, cinnamon is promoted as a
dietary supplement for diabetes or for irritable bowel syndrome or
other gastrointestinal problems, as well as other conditions. Cassia
cinnamon is promoted for topical use (application to the skin) as an
insect repellent.
How Much Do We Know?
There
have been many studies of cinnamon, especially for diabetes. However,
the results of the studies are difficult to interpret because
it’s often unclear what type of cinnamon and what part of the
plant were used.
What Have We Learned?
Studies done in people don’t clearly support using cinnamon for any health condition.
A
2019 review of 18 studies of cinnamon supplementation in people with
diabetes suggested that cinnamon could reduce blood sugar but
didn’t have a significant effect on hemoglobin A1C, which
reflects blood sugar levels over a longer period of time. However,
it’s unclear whether these findings are meaningful because 10 of
the studies didn’t identify the type of cinnamon used, and 8 of
the studies were judged to be of low quality for other reasons.
It’s
uncertain whether cinnamon is helpful for weight loss or for
controlling blood levels of cholesterol and related lipids.
There’s not enough evidence to show whether cinnamon is helpful
for irritable bowel syndrome.
It’s unclear whether cassia cinnamon is effective as an insect repellent.
What Do We Know About Safety?
Cinnamon
supplements appear to be safe when consumed in the amounts commonly
used in foods as a spice or flavoring agent. Use in larger amounts or
for long periods of time is sometimes associated with side effects,
most commonly gastrointestinal problems or allergic reactions.
Cassia
cinnamon contains a chemical called coumarin, which can be harmful to
the liver. Some cassia cinnamon products contain high levels of this
substance. In most cases, consuming cassia cinnamon doesn’t
provide enough coumarin to cause significant problems. However,
prolonged use of cassia cinnamon could be an issue for sensitive
people, such as those with liver disease.
Little is known about
whether it’s safe to use cassia cinnamon during pregnancy or
while breastfeeding. Ceylon cinnamon may be unsafe for use during
pregnancy if consumed in amounts greater than those commonly found in
foods. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use Ceylon
cinnamon during breastfeeding in amounts greater than those commonly
found in foods.
Cinnamon should not be used in place of
conventional medical care or to delay seeking care if you have health
problems. This is particularly true if you have diabetes.
Keep in Mind
Take
charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about
any complementary health approaches you use. Together, you can make
shared, well-informed decisions.
Key References
Bandara
T, Uluwaduge I, Jansz ER. Bioactivity of cinnamon with special emphasis
on diabetes mellitus: a review. International Journal of Food Sciences
and Nutrition. 2012;63(3):380-386.
Cassia cinnamon. Natural
Medicines website. Accessed at naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com
on October 10, 2019. [Database subscription].
Ceylon cinnamon.
Natural Medicines website. Accessed at
naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com on October 10, 2019. [Database
subscription].
Costello RB, Dwyer JT, Saldanha L, et al. Do cinnamon
supplements have a role in glycemic control in type 2 diabetes? A
narrative review. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
2016;116(11):1794-1802.
Hajimonfarednejad M, Ostovar M, Raee MJ, et
al. Cinnamon: a systematic review of adverse events. Clinical
Nutrition. 2019;38(2):594-602.
Maierean SM, Serban M-C, Sahebkar A,
et al. The effects of cinnamon supplementation on blood lipid
concentrations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of
Clinical Lipidology. 2017;11(6):1393-1406.
Mousavi SM, Rahmani J,
Kord-Varkaneh H, et al. Cinnamon supplementation positively affects
obesity: a systematic review and dose-reponse meta-analysis of
randomized controlled trials. Clinical Nutrition. 2020;39(1):123-133.
Namazi
N, Khodamoradi K, Khamechi SP, et al. The impact of cinnamon on
anthropometric indices and glycemic status in patients with type 2
diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2019;43:92-101.
Oketch-Rabah
HA, Marles RJ, Brinckmann JA. Cinnamon and cassia nomenclature
confusion: a challenge to the applicability of clinical data. Clinical
Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2018;104(3):435-445.
This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged.
NCCIH
has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to
substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care
provider(s). We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment
or care with your health care provider. The mention of any product,
service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCIH.
Last Updated: May 2020
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