Dietary fat is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Researchers in Ireland measured the effect of 3 grams cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) on gastric emptying, postprandial lipid and blood sugar responses, and other metabolic effects.

First, the details.

• 9 healthy volunteers ate a high-fat meal supplemented with 3 grams cinnamon or placebo.
• Gastric emptying was determined using the 13C octanoic acid breath test.
• Breath and blood samples, and subjective appetite ratings were collected in the fasted period and during the 360 minutes following the meal, followed by a buffet meal.
• Gastric emptying and 1-day fatty acid intake relationships were examined.
• The researchers were not aware of the treatment given — single-blind.

And, the results.

• Cinnamon did not change gastric emptying parameters.
• Post meal triglyceride and blood sugar concentrations, oxidative stress, arterial function, and appetite didn’t change with cinnamon vs the response with placebo.
• There was a significant relationship between gastric emptying and palmitoleic acid (a monounsaturated fatty acid), eiconsenoic acid (a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid), and total omega-3 intake.
• Ingesting 3 grams of cinnamon had no effect on gastric emptying, arterial stiffness, and oxidative stress following a high fat meal.

The bottom line?

The authors concluded, “3 grams cinnamon did not alter the postprandial response to a high-fat test meal.”

There was “no evidence to support the use of 3 grams cinnamon supplementation to prevent or treat of metabolic disease – conditions that affect the ability to perform critical biochemical reactions that involve the processing or transport of proteins (amino acids), carbohydrates (sugars and starches as in diabetes), or lipids (fatty acids)”.

Others have reported benefits with cinnamon in people with diabetes.

9/19/11 20:14 JR